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    • QuikTrip awards 0,000 to Athens and Oconee law enforcement agencies
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    QuikTrip awards $750,000 to Athens and Oconee law enforcement agencies

    Online Niel Posted on

    Several people from QuikTrip stores gathered at the Athens-Clarke Police Department on Lexington Road Thursday for a check presentation event.

    Many organizations need donations, but these rather large checks bring a smile to the faces of Athens-Clarke Police Chief Jerry Saulters and Oconee County Sheriff James Hale.

    A check for $500,000 was presented to Saulters and a check for $250,000 was to Hale.

    In both cases, the money will go to the nonprofit foundations of each agency established in the past year.

    Hale explained that the foundation’s money will be used to supplement needs that arise in the office that are not covered by the budget, such as something needed by deputies or even a facilities issue.

    Saulters talked about how the money can be used to improve the department’s new “real-time crime center,” which is in place and already has access to nearly 500 cameras across the city. The unit is touted as a way to solve crimes faster and alert an officer to what’s going on before they even arrive at a crime scene.

    Presenting each foundation’s checks was Robert Smith, a longtime QuikTrip employee who five months ago was named manager of the company’s Atlanta division. QuikTrip, also known as QT, is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it was founded in 1958.

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    There are two QT stations in Athens and one in Oconee, but a second is scheduled to open in Oconee in 2025, according to Smith.

    Legislation was passed about two years ago giving local law enforcement the ability to create a 501c foundation, according to Hale.

    Corporations, businesses and individuals can make tax-deductible donations through legislation that state Rep. Houston Gaines of Athens pushed through the state House about two years ago.

    The measure “allows individuals and corporations to donate a portion of their state income tax to local police foundations. It’s a tax credit dollar for a dollar,” Gaines said.

    “This is one of the largest donations in the state so far since the program began,” he said. “It’s a very new program and I hope it will raise awareness for other organizations and individuals to contribute to their local police foundation.”

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