LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Law enforcement agencies like the Arkansas State Police (ASP) always discuss being a family. Every day, troopers spread out statewide and sometimes perform dangerous work.
While they do, an extended family is working behind the scenes and back at home to help them thrive.
"The foundation's main goal is to support ASP and their families," said Emily Hamilton, executive director of the Arkansas State Police Foundation.
This nonprofit organization stands behind troopers and is lcoated behind the agency's Little Rock headquarters.
"We assist troopers and their families in times of great financial need," Hamilton said. "We purchase flags for the honor guard. We purchase awards for the troop school."
According to Hamilton, the foundation handles a few background things so troopers can focus on their jobs. She knows it all too well, as she's married to a trooper.
Along with the board president, Elizabeth Anderson, and the nearly four dozen board members, Hamilton and the team are positioning the foundation to equip the force with everything it needs.
"The Precision Driving Training complex at Camp Robinson, that was actually built by the foundation," Hamilton said. "The track itself, the classroom, the garage, and the tower... we're getting ready to start phase three out there, which will be the barracks and cafeteria."
While that big-ticket item helps troopers today, the foundation's other big mission helps troopers' families in the future.
"Right now, we have 19 dependents of troopers and auxiliary members on scholarship," Hamilton said. "Those 19 students have received $180,000 in funds for college, and our five-year projection on our scholarship is about $1.5 million."
That kind of money was raised thanks to generous donations and high-profile fundraisers all across the state. There's a dueling pianos gala in Texarkana on April 20 and a golf tournament in El Dorado on April 26.
Sponsorships are hundreds and thousands of dollars. The requests are far beyond the shady solicitations telemarketers might make.
"We do not do that," Hamilton said. "We do not have any service that calls people... I get that all the time. People call me and ask me if I called for a donation or that they donated to me, and that would not be us."
For budget-conscious would-be supporters, the foundation sells stickers you can put on your car. However, keep this in mind if you display one and then find yourself pulled over.
"I'll be honest with you, I think a lot of our troopers probably do not even pay attention to that decal," Hamilton said. "It's more just to show the public that you support law enforcement and the state police."