Police Union Seeking Donations In Fund Drive

The local police union is conducting its fund drive for 2009, according to police Officer Andrew Stinson, president of Newtown Police Union, Local 3153, Connecticut Council of Police Unions, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

As part of its fund drive, the union is making a mailed solicitation to all residents and businesses within town seeking donations for the labor union, according to Officer Stinson.

“The union would like to thank all those who made last year’s fundraiser such a success,” he said.

In the mailing, Officer Stinson writes, in part, “One hundred percent of your donation goes directly to our organization and is not shared with a paid solicitor. Only a small percentage of the funds is used for operating expenses.”

Past police union fund drives have been very successful, he adds, noting that contributions allow the union to aid the local community.

Officer Stinson lists various activities and organizations that benefit from the police union’s fund drive. These include: Newtown High School athletic programs; local youth athletic programs; local scholarship funds; the American Heart Association; the Special Olympics Torch Run; the US Marine Corps Toys For Tots Program; The Newtown Parent Connection; Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); the Newtown Relay For Life; holiday food drives; and the Halloween trick-or-treat event on Main Street.

“The Newtown Police Union has provided financial assistance to several local families in time of need, including families of injured and fallen police officers, [has participated in] local food drives, and a memorial scholarship fund set up [in memory of] a high school student killed in a motor vehicle accident,” Officer Stinson adds.