Round Rock Police Department Receives $2,500 Grant

ROUND ROCK, TX — The City of Pflugerville and Round Rock police departments have been awarded $2500 Aftermath Why-We-Serve grants in support of the Blue Guardian Mentorship Program with youth at the Texas Baptist Children’s Home, officials said.

The Pflugerville department placed third nationwide out of 16 finalists in an online voting contest for funding, with more than 55,000 votes cast during the competition, according to a press advisory.

“The Blue Guardian Mentorship Program was created to establish positive connections with children who may have had previous contact with officers during emergencies or other traumatic incidents,” Pflugerville Police Chief Jessica Robledo said. “Our partnership with the Texas Baptist Children’s Home allows us, as Blue Guardians, to make those positive connections. I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported us by voting every day, online to provide funding to support the youth and this mentorship program. Every vote counted.”

Community members and officers were asked to nominate their local police departments and cast their vote daily in the online contest. This is the second grant PPD has received from Aftermath, as PPD received a grant supporting the K-9 Unit in early 2018 via a similar voting process. Representatives from Aftermath will come present the $2500 check to the Police Department in a future ceremonial event.

Aftermath Services, a nationwide biohazard remediation company, awards grants to departments and their existing or prospective programs for maintenance, safety equipment, officer training or community outreach.

Pflugerville and Round Rock’s Blue Guardian Program was the only finalist in the state of Texas to place in the top five. Since launching in December 2017, the Blue Guardian program has created a partnership between the police and children at the TBCH. Officers serve as mentors to the TBCH youth who volunteer together, play basketball and establish friendship bonds. For more information on the Blue Guardian program, visithttps://www.pflugervilletx.gov/city-government/police-department/office-of-the-chief/blue-guardian.

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