Public safety and emergency preparedness are essential elements to Atlanta’s economic vitality and livability.  The Atlanta Police Foundation, established in 2003, provides the opportunity for a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors in the shared desire for a safer city.  The Foundation, a 501(c) 3,  provides a vehicle through which citizens and businesses can do their part to help provide the resources for programs that will enhance the ability of our men and women in blue to prevent and reduce crime.  The APF is in a unique position to promote dialogue between the community and law enforcement personnel as well. 
 
The Foundation’s programs are strategically focused to compliment the Department’s vision of becoming the safest large city.   Programs that address the need for more police visibility and enhanced training are given a high priority and include recruitment, scholarships, training, housing and the re-establishment of the Mounted Patrol unit.  Two new programs have been developed in 2007 to assist the APD with crime prevention and resolution:  Crime Stoppers, an anonymous tip-line and Operation Shield, a formula which allows for security information-sharing between the APD and private security via a web-based platform, two-way radio frequency communications and surveillance cameras.  The APF continually tracks and evaluates the success of each of these programs in an effort to have the most impact on crime prevention and emergency preparedness.