Council approves $7,000 in Law Enforcement Trust Fund grants for National Night Out events

The Melbourne City Council on Aug. 12 approved Resolution 4364 to appropriate $7,000 from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) to support three nonprofit organizations hosting neighborhood National Night Out events on Oct. 7.

Melbourne Police Chief David Gillespie said the city posted a notice seeking letters of interest and received three qualifying applications. He asked council to approve $3,500 for Palace Subdivision Neighborhood Watch, $2,500 for St. John Missionary Baptist Church (Carver Park event) and $1,000 for Club Esteem, for a total of $7,000 to be granted for community safety events.

Chief Gillespie said the requests complied with Florida statute and that department staff vetted the organizations; council approved the resolution and the associated grant agreements. Councilmembers encouraged nonprofits and neighborhoods to apply in future years; the police department said it advertises the funding opportunity on the city website annually.