Princeton Lodge #587 Partner with IMCAP to "Sniff Out" Way to Create Safe Community
Princeton Lodge #587 Worshipful Master Wayne Barr presents Chief of Police, Tom Kammerer, and the Princeton Police Department K9 Unit with a check to purchase a bloodhound for the department. Pictured is (front row, from left to right) Worshipful Master Wayne Barr, Police Chief Tom Kammerer, Police Officer Joel Drozda, and Chaplain Ted Johnson; (back row, from left to right) Senior Warden Larry Miller, Secretary Bud Silfies, Treasurer Larry Lawson, Brother Bill Cass, and Junior Senior Warden Larry Johnson.
In the past, the Youth Organization Connection program has helped Lodges support food banks, sports teams, learning needs, and youth organizations in their communities. Princeton Lodge #587 had a different idea of how they could utilized the program to best help children in their area. In September 2021, Princeton Lodge #587 reached out to IMCAP with the unique request to assist the Princeton Police Department purchase a bloodhound as well as training for an assigned caring officer.
Currently, the Princeton Police Department has 18 sworn officers and 2 canine officers. The department works hard to keep about 7,800 people in Bureau County safe. However, the department would like to increase their efforts to keep their county safe by providing more effective strategies for finding missing persons. This is where the bloodhound enters the scene. By purchasing a bloodhound for the Princeton Police Department and having an assigned officer to train and care for the bloodhound, the department hopes to be able to find missing persons quicker and return them to their families safe and sound. While the department has police dogs, these canines are not trained to search for missing persons as effectively as a bloodhound would be. Additionally, the closest police bloodhound is located in Kane County which is 90 miles away.
By utilizing the Youth Organization Connection, Princeton Lodge #587 was able to partner with IMCAP to provide funding for this unique and highly needed endeavor. The Youth Organization Connection is a micro grant program that allows Lodges to partner with IMCAP to provide funding to youth organizations. To apply for the program, the Lodge will work with the organization of their choice to fill out a proposal form. Once the proposal form is submitted to IMCAP, and all needed information has been gathered, the proposal will be presented at IMCAP’s monthly Board of Managers’ meeting where it will be voted on. If approved, IMCAP will write a check to the organization and provide the partnering Lodge with a certificate to present to the organization. Through the Youth Organization Connection, Lodges and IMCAP are able to help more children in more areas throughout Illinois.
If your Lodge knows of a youth organization or a community opportunity that may benefit from the Youth Organization Connection, please contact Director Gale Kilbury by email at IMCAP@ilmason.org or by phone at 217-529-8900 ext. 222. More information about the Youth Organization Connection and other IMCAP services can be found on our website: IMCAP.org.