A newly established nonprofit is striving to prevent crime and emphasize safety throughout Chaska.

The Chaska Crime Prevention Fund (CCPF) is the brainchild of former Chaska police officer Julie Lano, who served the community in law enforcement for 26 years and was the department’s community partnership specialist at the time of her retirement two years ago.

The volunteer-led organization coordinates with the Chaska Police Department to help fund and implement youth programs, Neighborhood Watch efforts, safety education and wellness equipment. CCPF supports outreach programs such as D.A.R.E. initiatives, the Citizen’s Academy, Night to Unite gatherings, Coffee with a Cop, youth safety camps and more.

“Our mission is to make Chaska a safe place to live and work,” she said. “It’s been a lot of work to get the nonprofit going and get it started, but now we’re off and running.”

CCPF also would like to instigate new programs throughout the community, including the purchase of teddy bears for kids displaced by house fires or removed from abusive situations.

“Another thing we’d love to do is to have a therapy dog,” Lano said. “It would be great to have a dog at the department when a kiddo has to come in for an interview or if officers have to respond to a challenging call. And we think it would be great to take a dog to senior buildings.”

Lano also hopes the nonprofit can help the Chaska Police Department start a K-9 unit in the future, adding a helpful tool that officers can use for search-and-rescue and drug cases.

“There’s a lot involved in training an officer and the dog, and equipping a squad, but this is one of our goals,” she said. “Right now, Chaska has to call either the Carver County Sheriff’s Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Department or the Eden Prairie Police Department for K-9 help. It just depends who has a dog on duty at the time.”

The Chaska nonprofit is patterned after the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund, which has been supporting public safety efforts in that community for more than 40 years. That fund’s president, Lisa Toomey, has been a big help in getting the Chaska group launched.

“She’s been a great mentor,” Lano said.

A Passion for Public Safety

During her law enforcement career, Lano said she loved directing community outreach for the Chaska Police Department. She often visited with senior citizens, hosted educational luncheons for community members, provided bicycle helmets for youngsters, helped families properly install car seats for kids, and developed partnership with various organizations.

“I was involved with anything that was community orientated,” she said. “I felt very blessed and fortunate for the role I had in our community.”

Through that experience, Lano realized there was never enough resources to accomplish all the outreach the Chaska Police Department wanted.

“We just didn’t have the funding to do everything,” she recalled. “But I think that crime prevention and outreach is really important. That’s why I wanted to start this fund.”

How Can You Support?

CCPF Board member Barbara Carslon applauded Lano’s passion for the mission of the new nonprofit.

“I love what Julie is doing,” Carlson said. “She wants to keep building community, even though she’s retired.”

Lano serves as president of the CCPF Board of Directors. Vice president is Peggy Hatfield; secretary is Tina Smith; and treasurer is Noel Grazyck. Other board members include Carlson, Melani Coleman, Bri Chocklan, Andy Mooney and John Kellin.

The organization is planning several upcoming fundraisers to benefit new and ongoing crime prevention efforts.

Volunteers will be selling light-up hoops and necklaces at Chaska’s Fourth of July fireworks display in McKnight Park July 1 and at the Fire and Ice celebration July 10-11 at Firemen’s Park.

“That’s going to be our first fundraiser,” Lano reported.

In addition, a golf event at The Loop is being planned for later this year, along with a special gathering at Rouge 41. The dates are yet to be determined.
Lano added that anyone interested in getting involved with CCPF can email chaskacrimefund@gmail.com.

“There’s just nine of us right now, so we would love to have more help with our events,” Lano said.

“Right now, we’re just trying to get the word out about CCPF, so people know we’re here. Once that happens, I think we’ll have a lot of community support,” Carslon said.

For more information, follow the Chaska Crime Prevention Fund Facebook page.

To donate, visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/chaska-crime-prevention-fund.