Cpl. Jason Sharp - President     PSO Sherri McGuire - Secretary/Treasurer 

Background

The Parsons Police Officer’s Association (P.P.O.A.) is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 by the officers of the department. The P.P.O.A. was organized as a public relation’s group for the police department. This is accomplished by creating youth activities that allows positive contact with law enforcement. The organization was also meant to assist the officers with the purchase of necessary safety equipment that was unable to be purchased through the police department due to budget limitations.

Members of the P.P.O.A. can been seen at many local events performing public safety acts such as; Ident-A-kid, bicycle safety courses, security, and general safety awareness classes. Other organizations that assist the P.P.O.A. with public safety acts are the Parsons Fire Department, Labette County EMS, and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office.

Members

The P.P.O.A. is made up of all the employees of the Parsons Police Department, as well as the dedicated spouses of the employees and other family members. In 2004, the P.P.O.A. opted to open the membership to other dedicated, hardworking volunteers who are not associated with the organization, and who must be voted on and accepted in order to become a member. To date, the P.P.O.A. has 29 full-time members, not including spouses and non-employee members.

Fundraisers

The P.P.O.A. holds a major fundraiser each year. This fundraiser is the Osage Prairie Tour. This consists of 15-, 40-, and 70- mile bicycle rides that are always held on the last Saturday of April. The P.P.O.A. began the bicycle ride fundraiser in 1998 to assist in the donations to area youth programs.