By Rusty Bradshaw
Twitter: @SunCitiesEditor

The Sun City Posse expanded its exposure in the community and continues to be on solid financial ground.

The agency secured a spot in the Recreation Centers of Sun City’s newest facility, Grand Center, 10415 W. Grand Ave. The branch office, located just off the main entrance to the building, Aug. 3.

“We had a few bumps to work out, but nothing that could not be fixed,” said Richard Nonini, Sun City Posse commander.

He added six people visited the office the first day it was open.

Tentative hours for the branch office are 9 a.m.-noon.

“This could change as we see how things work out,” Mr. Nonini stated in a July email.

There will be two Posse members in the office, a patrol member and an associate, he explained. They will have access to all Posse information and will be able to hand out and collect Vacation Watch and Emergency Information cards.

“We believe this satellite office will give many people an easy place to connect with the Posse, especially those south of Grand Avenue,” Mr. Nonini stated.

Danny Moore, Posse treasurer, said the agency met its fundraising goals for 2019-20, including receiving two trust funds. He added donations to the Posse can now be made with a credit card through the organization’s website, suncityposse.org.

The Posse will continue its annual fundraising drive despite the coronavirus pandemic.

“We will do our annual fund drive just like we normally do,” Mr. Moore said. “The request letters will go out in October.

The Posse’s annual budget of about $250,000 receives no funding from Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office or any other governmental source.

“We are funded entirely by donations from the community,” Mr. Moore said.

Mr. Nonini said he wants to see membership continue to climb for the agency, and he wants it to come sooner rather than later. He said there were 50 active patrol members at the end of July. That is half the 109 active patrol members available in 2009, he said.

“I want to see us get back to the point where we can add back services that we’ve curtailed, including weekend patrols, that we’ve lost over the years due to the drop in membership,” Mr. Nonini said.

The Posse has two categories of members, active patrol and associates. The latter handles mostly duties inside the headquarters, such as clerical and dispatch.

“My prediction of losing five members and gaining 10 would mean it would take five years to get back to the 2009 numbers,” Mr. Nonini said. “I hope we can do it faster than that.”