The Rotary Club of Sandy Springs has started a billboard campaign as part of its three step service project to support  the Sandy Spring’s Police Department and First Responders. The initial two-week phase of the billboard campaign began August 16 with the following message appearing on the Lamar outdoor digital billboard on the south side of I-285 near the Perimeter Center Parkway bridge with the message seen by east and westbound traffic.

The inspiration for the billboard campaign grew out of a June zoom meeting of Sandy Springs nonprofits in the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable where Ken DeSimone, police chief, was the keynote speaker. Ken described the challenges of low morale and increasing difficulty in getting new police recruits with all the negative publicity of the past few years and efforts to “defund the police”. After he mentioned seeing a billboard on I-285 with that message the idea to put a counter message of “Supporting the Police“ on local billboards was suggested and approved to move forward. The Rotary Club of Sandy Springs volunteered to manage the campaign and began raising funds. The public was invited to contribute via a Facebook fundraiser whereby 100% of contributions to the Sandy Springs Rotary Foundation would go to the campaign with any leftover funds contributed to the Sandy Springs Police Benevolent Fund which supports First Responders in crisis.

As phase two, the club is also supporting the SSPD’s existing Yard Sign Program by promoting it on social media and buying & distributing signs to residents & businesses in Sandy Springs. Past President John Neill and Police Chief Ken DeSimone shared the sign at a recent meeting.

The third project asks the public for nominations of outstanding, active Sandy Springs first responders for Rotary International Medals of Honor. Honorees who will be recognized at a future club event.