What We Do
We believe in paying it forward through volunteering in our community.
Who We Are
The Golden Valley Crime Prevention fund works to encourage the prevention of crime, the apprehension of criminals and maintaining a strong community relationship with law enforcement. The GVCPF funds several initiatives within Golden Valley to accomplish this.
- Offer rewards for information that leads to the solving of a crime
- Provide funds for community outreach programs
- Provide scholarships through local schools to encourage degrees in law enforcement
- Create opportunities for our youth to have positive interactions with law enforcement
- Make funds available for non-budgeted items or events within the police department
- Recognizing the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line
The Golden Valley Crime Prevention Fund is a volunteer organization made up of Golden Valley volunteers who are focused on reducing crime and making the community saver for everyone. The foundation supports the police department by soliciting donations and support from other groups to provide programs that do not have sources of funding.
The GVCPF is a nonprofit corporation under Minnesota law with an April 1 – March 31st fiscal year. The foundation files a Charitable Organization Annual Report with the Minnesota attorney General.
The GVCPF in an exempt organization eligible for tax-deductible charitable contributions under section 501(c)(3) of Title 25 of the US Code.
The GVCPF files a for 990 annually with the Internal Revenue Service.
Our History
The GVCPF was incorporated as a not for profit January 1, 1973. This was directly on the heels of Edina forming their Crime prevention Fund in 1970 and slightly ahead of Eden Prairie. All three cities were interested in solving and preventing crime. It was felt necessary to have a fund to use to get information leading to the arrest of criminals in outstanding cases. This was the original purpose of the Crime Prevention Fund and consisted of the Chief and 3 business people.
GV hired Sheila Miller in 1980 as a Crime Prevention Specialist to work with our officers and residents to develop programs that could prevent crime and familiarize our police to the community they serve. Joanne Paul stepped into that position till July of 2022 when she stepped down. In the 90’s in order to keep up with demand our board was expanded to include members from different civic organizations with fund raising being done once a year to help support and pay for initiatives as: Safety camps, Bike Rodeo, CounterAct in schools, Public safety in parks, NW YMCA programs, GVPD kids and cops, Dover hills pizza parties, Police bike patrol and Shop with a cop during the holidays. More recently the GVCPF has initiated catalytic converter painting and a Trunk and Treat with our Police at Halloween time. In consultation with the Eden Prairie Crime Fund we have created and awarded a scholarship to a high school senior who has chosen to study law enforcement.
We believe all this hard work has endeared our police department to our residents both young and old and has helped keep our crime rate low.
Crime Reward Fund
The Golden Valley Crime Prevention Fund started initially to offer rewards for information on crimes. It was originally thought of as a “snitch” fund. Currently the fund has taken on much more and doesn’t have a specific “snitch” fund but we do offer rewards for some crimes as the police see needed. Below is a sampling of some rewards offered.
In November of 1980 GVCPF offered $100 reward for information leading to the arrest and formal charging of people involved in the theft of an American flag from a yard. You can remain anonymous.
In June of 1985 GVCPF offered a $500 reward for information leading to arrest and indictment of people involved in the “Smash and grab” of 4 businesses in the past 2 weeks. Sgt. Bob Shellum said, “It’s a hard crime to solve as they hit in the middle of night and only take a minute to do it.”
In February of 1996 the GVCPF offered $40,000 reward leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for either or both of the murders that happened in a relatively close timeframe. Other than both being shot on streets starting with “M” there is no connection found.
In February of 2022, the GVCPF offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting that involved two vehicles in the area of Duluth St and Regent where a women was seriously injured.
Board of Directors
Karen Boehne
President
Karen is a resident of Golden Valley and along with the Golden Valley Crime Prevention fund, she is a member of the League of Women Voters.
Karen has been an entrepreneur most of her life with a focus on the garment care industry. Her last entrepreneurial business was a wedding gown care business located at 36th and highway 169.Karen has restored gowns as old as 117 years and cleaned current gowns valued at tens of thousands dollars.
Mark Friederichs
Vice President
My wife Jan and I have lived in Golden Valley for 37 years. We raised our family here and my children went to grade school at Meadowbrook. We are members of Spirit of Hope in Golden Valley. I am a private pilot, glider pilot,avid snowmobiler,and motorcycle rider. I am a past president of the Golden Valley Rotary. I am addicted to Gladiolas for which I make no apologies.
I believe the Crime Prevention fund is an important link between the citizens and law enforcement in our town. By supporting interaction, we all become informed, educated and involved. It is also important to thank the people who would go into harm’s way to protect us all.
Nancy Azzam
Treasurer
Nancy has been a resident of Golden Valley for 50 years. She is a volunteer at Noble Elementary school and has been the president of the Golden Valley Crime Prevention Fund through which she has been a strong supporter of the Golden Valley Police Department employees and is proud to have worked with six outstanding police chiefs on community outreach programs.
Nancy is an annual participant in the International Whaling Commission whose mission is to maintain the moratorium on commercial whaling. She is a member of the Golden Valley Historical Society, the Golden Valley Garden Club and volunteer at Market in the Valley. Nancy also serves scholarship committees for American Association of University Women, School of Engineering U of Michigan and Golden Valley Federated Women’s Club.
Nancy has a BA from the University of Michigan and a masters from Middlebury College and the University of Minnesota
Jean Kidd
Board Member
I am a 10-year resident in Golden Valley. I’ve worked in public service for 28 years as a firefighter in Minneapolis. I want to participate in a committee to support our own public safety by working with the community to provide fund raising efforts to enhance initiatives our dedicated safety members see as important to serve out community.
Georgia Goodwin
Board Member
Georgia has been a Golden Valley resident for 40 + years and a Golden Valley homeowner for 30+ years. She worked as a music teacher for Robbinsdale schools. teaching K-12 choral/general music, for 35 years and is now retired.
Besides the Golden Valley Crime Prevention Fund, Georgia is also a member of the Golden Valley Women’s club and a church organist.
Liz Ellgen
Secretary
We bought our starter home in Golden Valley over 45 years ago and have never left. I graduated with a social work and nursing degree while raising our 3 sons. I’m a long time employee of North Memorial, guest lecturing for Hospice and Stephen’s Ministry. I love gardening, traveling, animals and eating anything chocolate. I want to continue making Golden Valley the best city to live in for everyone.
David Kuball
Board Member
David and his wife, Jan, have been residents of Golden Valley for 35 years. Despite having a degree in journalism, he has worked in the IT industry his entire career and is currently employed at Optum. Besides the Golden Valley Crime Prevention fund, David has been a board member at the Golden Valley Historical Society since 2017.
David is an avid bicyclist, a book reader and a history buff.
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Your Donations Impact People’s Lives
Supporting our police department and the men and women who serve, creates a safer community for everyone.