Oconee Sheriff’s Foundation and Crimestoppers of Oconee County Receive Grant Awards

The Oconee Sheriff’s Foundation and Crimestoppers of Oconee County, Inc. are announcing the awarding of grants for both initiatives.

The grants were applied for by Helen Westmoreland, who is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Foundation received a grant award of $7,290.22 while Crimestoppers of Oconee County, Inc. received a grant award of $14,424.40.

The grant money was made available through the SC Cares Act, which is part of COVID-19 legislation that was passed by the South Carolina Legislature in the spring of 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic.

“The grants are of a benefit to both initiatives as normal fundraising events have had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to Mrs. Westmoreland. “The grants will allow us to continue to support both initiatives.”

Crimestoppers is an organization whose purpose is to assist law enforcement agencies in Oconee County with tips and information to help solve crimes. According to Mrs. Westmoreland, tips received by Crimestoppers were up 42% in 2020 from the previous year.

The Oconee Sheriff’s Foundation purpose is to support the mission and goals of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and its employees. Money raised through the Foundation allowed the Sheriff’s Office to purchase their latest K-9 officer, Thor, in 2019 and plans are in the works to purchase another K-9 officer in 2021. The Foundation is also offering Tuition Reimbursement for any Sheriff’s Office employee who is accepted into a degree program at an accredited college or university that is tied directly to their position with the agency to further enhance their job skills and leadership development.

Crimestoppers of Oconee County, Inc. and the Oconee Sheriff’s Foundation are both non-profit organizations. Both organizations do not receive tax payer dollars to fund their operations.