One of the many missions of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is to support the Department's Police Explorer program. The program helps the youth of the community build character, gain self-esteem and develop citizenship skills.

Newly hired Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer Daniel Abraira is a perfect example of the program's success.

The son of a career Palm Beach County firefighter, Daniel became interesed in the Police Explorer program at the age of 12. Too young to join, he watched from the sidelines until he reached the age of 14 .. and then joined in.

Over the next 8 years he was a very active Explorer, working his way through the ranks to Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain.

After high school Daniel gained his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from the Indian River State College while simultaneously gaining his Florida State Law Enforcement Certificate.

Upon graduation Daniel applied to only one Florida Police agency - the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department. And after a short stint working private security, Daniel joined our Department in 2011. Having completed an extensive in-service training program, he is now one of Palm Beach Garden's finest.

But Daniel has not forgotten his roots in the Department. In addition to his routine patrol assignments, Daniel is also an Advisor to the current Palm Beach Gardens Police Explorer Post, helping those young men and women who, like himself, have expressed an interest in Law Enforcement as a career.

Congratulations Daniel. And thank you to all of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation donors. Your support allows us to help fund numerous worthwile programs for the youth of the community.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Each year, the second week of April is dedicated to the men and women - the "true first responders" - who serve as public safety telecommunicators. In 1991, the US Congress proclaimed it as a nationally recognized week of recognition.

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is pleased to express its appreciation to the dedicated men and women of NorthCom who handle several thousand 9-1-1 calls each week for the City of Palm Beach Gardens, the Town of Jupiter and the Town of Juno Beach.

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Palm Beach County's Victims' Rights Coalition will celebrate the opening of National Crime Victims' Rights Week on Monday, April 23d and has a very active schedule of events planned for the week.

Palm Beach Gardens Police Commander Laurie VanDeusen will be the Master of Ceremonies for the opening event as well as the Annual Awards Luncheon to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens on Friday April 27th. Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Stephen J. Stepp will give the opening remarks at the luncheon. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is pleased to be a supporter of this very worthwhile event.

You can learn more about the coalition and the 2012 schedule of events by clicking here.

Each year, over 5,000 police officers from over 300 Florida agencies participate in the state-wide torch run to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Florida. They carry the torch on a 1500-mile relay through 66 counties within the State of Florida ending up on May 18, 2012 at the Opening Ceremonies of the State Summer Games in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is proud to be a supporter of the Palm Beach County portion of the Law Enforcement Torch Run which ended this year at the Royal Palm School in Lantana. The Police Foundation donated over 500 gifts to the students of the school which is an ESE (Exceptional Student Education) facility for students with significant/severe physical, emotional, cognitive communication and social deficits. Joining us in our support this year was The Gardens Mall and Sports Authority.

You can learn more about Special Olympics Florida and the Law Enforcement Torch Run by clicking here.