St. Pete Sheriff To Present Forfeited Funds To Worthy Groups

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – More than 50 community programs for at-risk youth, drug education and rehabilitation, neighborhood safety and crime prevention will be the beneficiaries of forfeited funds confiscated by the St, Petersburg Police during crime busts.

On Friday, Jan. 12, Chief of Police Anthony Holloway will distribute checks totaling $110,400 to local programs that improve neighborhood safety, promote crime prevention and prevent drug abuse.

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the Sunshine Center Auditorium, 330 5th St. N.

Each year, the police department awards money and assets confiscated from illegal drug sale busts and other crimes to worthy organizations in the community. Holloway noted that this year’s proceeds are 29 percent higher than last year’s confiscated funds, which totaled $85,700.

The program is administered by the St. Petersburg Police Department Legal Division, under the supervision of general counsel Sasha Lohn.

Holloway said he’s especially interested in assisting programs that promote positive activities for kids and teens and helps keep them off the streets. This year’s funds will pay for items such as basketballs, fishing poles, art supplies and bicycle locks.

Among the programs benefiting are the chief’s crime prevention programs, which will receive $23,500; the St. Pete parks department’s RAP basketball program for at-risk children, receiving $8,000; the St. Petersburg Cross and Anvil Human Services Center Men in the Making crime prevention program, $5,000; and the Eckerd College Search and Rescue neighborhood safety program, $5,000.

See the attached documents for a complete list of recipients.

The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Teen Arts, Sports and Cultural Opportunities program is among the recipients of funds confiscated during crime busts.

Photo via TASCO