The Green County Safe and Secure Foundation is closing down after donating nearly a quarter of a million dollars contributed by local supporters to law enforcement, EMS, and other government entities, according to the man who was instrumental in creating the organization, Charles Middleton.
Middleton will soon be moving to an area in the northern part of South Carolina to be closer to family.
However, Middleton had one last donation to make before shutting down the organization.
“We raised more money in the last month than in the last 10 years,” Middleton said. “We like to go out on a high note.”
The Safe and Secure Foundation was able to raise funds this year that will allow the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Greensboro Police Department to purchase new canines, which cost $14,500 each from Custom Canine Unlimited.
The GCSO had two K-9 officers until 13-year veteran Oby passed away recently. The remaining K-9 officer, Takota – who works with Sgt. Matthew Cowdrey – will be joined by a new officer to be named “Griff.”
The name is a tribute to Middleton’s father, Charles Griffin Middleton, who was killed in the line of duty in North Carolina when Charles was 5 years old. Charles’ mother, Selma Middleton, finished out her husband’s term as sheriff.
The Greensboro Police Department will call its new K-9 “Chase”, according to Middleton.
During this round of contributions, enough was raised to provide fencing for the Greene County Animal Control kennels, essential radar equipment for Greene County and Greensboro patrol units as well as ballistic shields and vests for EMS.
“I believe in giving all of our first responders all the tools possible for them to do their jobs,” Middleton said.
Other tools donated by the GCS&SF in the past include, but are not limited to, bulletproof vests for Greene County Sheriff’s deputies and K-9; a portion of the funds needed to purchase Greensboro Police Dept.’s K-9, Halo, as well as a bulletproof vest for Halo; Lucas 3 automated chest compression systems for all ambulances, to help EMTs better treat heart attack victims; new drones for GPD and Greene County EMS; ballistic shields for GPD and GCSO; pet oxygen masks to go in all the fire trucks in all of Greene County’s fire departments to treat pets who are victims of house fires; and reflective vests for Greene County EMS personnel.
The Foundation committee is made up of local business owners and emergency services personnel, including Middleton, the former owner of Acura & Volvo of Athens, as the chairman; and members Joe Bashore, the Greene County EMS Agency director and owner of Bashore Appliance Repair; Jimmy Britt, owner of Jimmy Britt Chevrolet; Byron Lombard, Greene County manager; Rodricus Monford, Greensboro police chief; and Donnie Harrison, Greene County sheriff.
“I couldn’t be more proud of all we’ve done and how everyone helped, and want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone,” Middleton said.