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Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw addresses his agency's "Safe Place" program.
It was launched last week and offers businesses the opportunity to become a "Safe Place" for victims of hate crimes.
The program is operated through a $175,000 federal grant, requested during the Biden administration, and carried out by the PBSO LGBTQ Liaison Unit. But the sheriff tells us that the program has nothing to do with specifically the LGBTQ community.
"The focus is hate crimes, but it's actually any type of thing. It could be domestic abuse, it could be somebody that's just the victim of a crime."
He says it's a matter of people having the opportunity to find a place in their neighborhood where they can walk in and say they want help. That business would then reach out to the Sheriff's Office.
"There's no agenda here. There's no anything about the program other than trying to help people."
He says no businesses will be pressured by the agency into displaying the decals, which are rainbow-colored and in the shape of a law enforcement badge.
"I just happened to think it was a catchy little logo there with the rainbow over the star."
As Brian Mudd has reported, the program originated inside the Seattle Police Department and was initially meant to address low reporting of anti-LGBTQ crimes, but was later expanded to include all hate crimes.
Seattle was of course home of the original "welcoming city" declaration for illegal immigrants and is known for other policies that seemingly go against what one may consider "best practices." And here it's being deployed in of all places the home county of President Trump.
We brought that concern up to Sheriff Bradshaw.
"We could care less what Seattle does. This is tailored to our needs."
We asked whether any taxpayer dollars will go towards the efforts and the sheriff said he doesn't think so, because typically programs funded through grants do not involve taxpayer money, however he acknowledged that he doesn't "know all the intricacies" about the federal grant.
The Sheriff's Office says "Businesses interested in becoming a "Safe Place" can reach out to the Sheriff's Office by visiting www.pbsosafeplace.org, click on “Join Safe Place Initiative,” and complete the application. A PBSO Liaison will then deliver your decal, signifying your commitment to safety and inclusion.