Tustin Police Foundation

We invest in initiatives that:

Promote excellence within the police department.

Expand capabilities to address evolving community needs.

Strengthen neighborhoods through collaborative efforts.

Create opportunities for at-risk youth, guiding them toward positive futures.

Your generous donations are crucial. They directly fund unique training programs, equipping our officers with innovative approaches to complex police procedures and ensuring they have the resources needed to excel.

We firmly believe a safe city is a strong city. Join us; together, we can make a real difference in Tustin.

Mission: To champion public safety by providing vital resources, modern technology, officer wellness support, and community outreach programs to the Tustin Police Department.

Why We Exist: Municipal budgets cover baseline personnel and equipment costs, but rapidly advancing law enforcement standards require agile supplemental funding that public funds alone cannot support.

Key Focus Areas:

Advanced tactical and de-escalation training

Critical safety equipment and technology upgrades

Officer mental health and comprehensive wellness resources

Community outreach and youth engagement initiatives (e.g., Explorers, Run with the Cops, K-9 support)

Funding Model: Exclusively supported through private tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.

The impact of the Tustin Police Foundation goes far beyond funding equipment; it actively builds trust, uplifts vulnerable families, and strengthens the social fabric of Tustin. Here is a look at the core ways that fundraising translates into tangible community impact:

1. Holiday Joy & Direct Family Relief: The Santa Cop Tradition

Santa Cop has been one of Tustin’s most meaningful traditions for over three decades. It is not just about gifts—it is about restoring dignity, spreading hope, and creating lasting positive memories between officers and local families. Targeted Support for Families in Need: Working closely with local schools, churches, and community centers, TPD identifies 80+ families and hundreds of children each year experiencing hardship. Essential Care Packages: Along with toys and personalized wish-list gifts, families receive practical essentials like warm pajamas and grocery gift cards to ensure food security during the holidays. Santa’s Sleigh Neighborhood Visits: Foundation-supported efforts help bring the police-escorted Santa’s Sleigh through local streets, spreading cheer directly into Tustin neighborhoods.

2. Youth Mentorship & Proactive Outreach
Investing in youth breaks down barriers and fosters positive role models early in a child’s life.Team Kids & School Mentorship: Officers step into classrooms to mentor elementary students, teaching leadership, teamwork, and community responsibility.Run with a Cop & Community Open Houses: Interactive events create approachable, non-emergency settings where kids and parents can connect directly with officers, tour vehicles, and see first responders as trusted neighbors.Police Explorers Support: Equips local teenagers and young adults with leadership training, career guidance, and practical public safety skills.

3. Compassionate Community Care & Homeless Outreach
True community policing extends help to those in crisis.Homeless Outreach Assistance: Provides officers and outreach liaisons with immediate resources—such as essential items, emergency aid, and connection to social services—to assist individuals experiencing homelessness with compassion and long-term solutions.Emergency Assistance Funds: Supplies officers with the tools to resolve small crises on the spot when encountering residents in urgent need of food or basic necessities.

4. Advanced Training & Officer Safety That Protects Everyone

A well-trained, healthy officer creates a safer neighborhood for every resident.De-escalation & Crisis Intervention: Supplemental funding ensures officers receive advanced training in managing complex mental health calls and high-stress situations with care and restraint.

Physical & Mental Wellness: Supporting peer support and mental wellness programs ensures first responders remain clear-headed, resilient, and ready to serve Tustin at their best.

Critical Needs & Funding Priorities: Tustin Police Foundation
Public safety in Tustin depends on two vital commitments: outfitting officers with the lifesaving medical tools to rescue residents in critical moments, and investing in the community traditions that build lifelong trust.

1. Urgent Lifesaving Medical & Trauma Gear: $30,000 – $50,000 Annual Need
Police officers are almost always the first to arrive on the scene of medical crises, where seconds directly dictate survival. Standard municipal budgets rarely cover the ongoing, advanced medical equipment required for modern field emergencies.

Essential Field Equipment: The Foundation provides continuous funding for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs), advanced tactical tourniquets, hemostatic bandages, and pediatric trauma gear across the department's fleet.

Continuous Restocking & Upgrades: Medical supplies expire, and gear is expended during real-world rescues. An annual commitment of $30,000 to $50,000 ensures our officers never respond to a critical traffic collision, sudden cardiac arrest, or severe injury unprepared.

2. Building a New Legacy: The $100,000 Santa Sleigh Campaign
For decades, the Tustin Santa Sleigh has been the heartbeat of our community policing efforts, traveling through more than 90% of Tustin’s neighborhoods over two weeks each December and bringing holiday joy to over 10,000 children and families.

The Immediate Need: After decades of faithful service, the original sleigh has reached the end of its operational lifespan and requires complete replacement.

The $100,000 Build: This year, the Foundation is undertaking a $100,000 capital project to design, fabricate, and equip an entirely new, safe, and modern Santa Sleigh built to serve Tustin for the next 20+ years.

Community Impact: The Sleigh provides thousands of children with their very first positive, approachable interaction with law enforcement—transforming officers into trusted neighbors and protectors.

Tustin, Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange, North Tustin, Orange County

We work in close coordination with the Tustin Police Department, supporting their mission to foster strong partnerships with other city departments, local businesses, residents, and various governmental and non-profit agencies. Together, we focus on:

Reducing crime and making Tustin a safer place.

Enhancing the sense of safety and security for those who live and visit our city.

Improving the overall quality of life for our community members.

The Foundation plays a crucial role in raising funds for initiatives that directly support these goals. Our efforts strengthen the vital partnership between the community and the Police Department, which is a cornerstone of the Community Governance Model of Policing that the Tustin Police Department operates under. Your support helps us invest in programs that not only reduce crime but also build a more connected and resilient Tustin.

- Leah Barrett - President of the Tustin Police Department

What makes the Tustin Police Foundation special? It’s driven entirely by volunteers: local residents, community leaders, and TPD officers and staff who dedicate their off-duty hours and personal resources to give back.

From funding critical emergency medical kits to bringing the magic of the Santa Sleigh to 10,000+ kids, our officers and neighbors work hand in hand to make Tustin safer, stronger, and more connected.

When you support the Foundation, you’re backing a team that is 100% invested in this community—both on and off the clock.