Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/211425
NEWS BRIEFS The 2012 Honor the Badge law enforcement group gathers in front of Target on Fruitville Road. Contributed photo DONATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR HONOR THE BADGE EVENT The Sarasota Housing Authority, Sarasota Police Department and Target are partnering to provide underprivileged youths with a unique holiday experience, the Police Department has announced. Through donations received from the Sarasota Police Department, local businesses, religious organizations and individuals prior to the event, the Housing Authority will provide the funds for the officers to purchase the gifts, The Sarasota Housing Authority's Honor the release explains. the Badge shopping event "is an initiative "Our goal is to help underprivileged children designed to help build mutual trust and respect from our community come together with between law enforcement officials and chillocal law enforcement [representatives] in dren of families living in Sarasota Housing Authority communities," a news release an inclusive, non-threatening environment explains. Honor the Badge will pair 100 local that will encourage open and honest commuunderprivileged children with Sarasota law nication with … [the] officers to remove any enforcement officers to shop for holiday gifts fear the youths may have when interacting at the Target store on Fruitville Road from 6 with [them]," says Capt. Lucius Bonner of the to 8 a.m. on Dec. 14, before the store's open- Police Department's Bureau of Professional Standards in the release. ing to the public that day, the release notes.