Starfish Assignment

Starfish Assignment Strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the community. Non-partisan, all-volunteer. If I don’t throw them back in, they’ll die." What should I do? No.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are you called "The Starfish Assignment"? We try to make a difference for one, based on this parable:
One day a man was walking along a beach when he noticed a boy picking up starfish and throwing them into the ocean. He asked the boy what he was doing.

“Throwing starfish into the ocean,” the child replied. “The surf is up and the tide is going out. The man laugh

ed. “How can you possibly hope to make a difference? There are miles of beach here, and hundreds, if not thousands of starfish washed up onto it.”

The boy listened politely, then bent down and gently tossed another starfish into the surf. He smiled at the man and said, “I made a difference to that one.”

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How do I get information about volunteering with Starfish? Thank you for wanting to get involved with us! Please email us at [email protected] and our Volunteer Coordinator will get you added to our list as well as provide you with additional information.

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I have some items to donate to Starfish. Thank you for thinking of us! If we've posted an Assignment and you're contacting us about that, please email us at [email protected]. It's very hard for us to keep track of messages on Facebook and we don't want to miss anything. If you're asking us in general if we need something, we don't have any storage space for items, so we ask for items as we have people who need them. We obtain all our furniture from the Furniture Bank of Ohio. They're a wonderful organization, and we recommend you contact them if you have furniture to donate: https://www.furniturebankcoh.org/

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I've fallen on hard times. Will you help me? We're very sorry to hear you're having a tough time. Our charity is different than most. We work only with law enforcement officers, who partner with us to get help for people they come across in the course of their duties.

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Why did you delete my comment? Starfish Assignment strives to be a positive and non-political organization. We welcome people of all backgrounds. Comments that do not meet those standards may be deleted.

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I'm a police officer. I identified someone in need. How do I proceed? We really look forward to working with you! If you're one of our partner agencies, please email us at [email protected]. We strive to get back to you within 24 hours with questions or ideas about how we'd like to proceed. Please include your phone number as well as a good time to call.

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How are you funded? Through private contributions like donations on this page and from wonderful businesses like CME Federal Credit Union. The law enforcement agencies we work with do not give us money; we are a separate entity from them.

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Do the police control what you write? We're separate from them and post our own content. Occasionally, such as when we're dealing with undercover officers or open investigations, we will ask them to review a post to make sure we are not disclosing anything sensitive. But we view that as being good citizens, and it's something that we initiate, not them.

Such a beautiful night at the Opening Ceremony for Special Olympics Ohio, which included officers, deputies, and trooper...
05/30/2026

Such a beautiful night at the Opening Ceremony for Special Olympics Ohio, which included officers, deputies, and troopers carrying in the Olympic flame as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Smiles, hugs, and high fives were a huge part of the festivities.

Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, families, and friends. We hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with competition, camaraderie, and memories you will always treasure. You are all amazing!

A special thank you to Marion Police Lieutenant Mark Elliott and his partner, K-9 Ranger, for joining us for the third year. Ranger was a crowd favorite once again, happily accepting all the pets his fans wanted to give him, posing handsomely for photos, and generally being the bestest boy.

Columbus Division of Police
Marion, Ohio Police Department
Columbus Department of Public Safety
Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Ohio
Special Olympics
Special Olympics Ohio

05/30/2026

A small portion of yesterday's Law Enforcement Torch Run for

Sergeant Mel Romans and Officer Sam James recently held a special Books & Badges en español event for the Spanish-speaki...
05/26/2026

Sergeant Mel Romans and Officer Sam James recently held a special Books & Badges en español event for the Spanish-speaking students of Saint Mary Magdalene School.

The students loved spending time with the officers, listening to the story, and sharing plenty of smiles along the way. Officer James also signed books for the children, giving each student a copy to take home and keep.

Books & Badges helps create positive connections between officers and children, one story at a time. Children have the opportunity to ask questions about officers’ jobs and daily lives while emphasizing how important reading is.

Thank you to Sgt. Romans, Officer James, and Saint Mary Magdalene School for another wonderful visit!

Columbus Division of Police
Columbus Department of Public Safety
Saint Mary Magdalene School-Columbus

It is with heavy hearts that we say farewell to our friend, Retired Marion K-9 Six.Six was a loving friend, a dedicated ...
05/22/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we say farewell to our friend, Retired Marion K-9 Six.

Six was a loving friend, a dedicated partner, and a cherished member of the community. He helped make Books & Badges readings even more special by “signing” books for the children. He proudly worked alongside his beloved partner, Lt. Mark Elliott, and loved his family and friends with his whole heart.

We will miss you, Six. Thank you for being such a bright light in the world.

Marion, Ohio Police Department
Marion Six

During National Police Week, we pause to honor the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, remember the families who c...
05/10/2026

During National Police Week, we pause to honor the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, remember the families who carry that loss, and thank the officers who continue to serve each day.

We are grateful for law enforcement officers everywhere. Thank you for meeting community needs, building trust, and protecting us. ❤️ 💙

Yesterday, a Columbus Division of Police officer was injured in the line of duty. We pray for his full recovery and are ...
04/30/2026

Yesterday, a Columbus Division of Police officer was injured in the line of duty. We pray for his full recovery and are thinking of his family, fellow officers, and friends during this very difficult time.

We are deeply grateful for his service, courage, and commitment to protecting others. Officers face incredible risks in their work, and those risks can become real in an instant. To all who wear the badge: thank you for your sacrifices. You are loved and appreciated.

For decades, Mrs. Marylou Posey has made Easter brighter for children across central Ohio, and this year that extraordin...
04/02/2026

For decades, Mrs. Marylou Posey has made Easter brighter for children across central Ohio, and this year that extraordinary tradition continued in a big way.

A total of 712 Easter baskets were donated throughout Central Ohio, including baskets shared with the Columbus Division of Police and Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. These baskets were donated with love by Mr. and Mrs. Posey, their family and friends, and their church family at Worthington Presbyterian Church.

What began years ago as a simple act of kindness has now brought joy to thousands of children. That is a remarkable legacy, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who continues to give their time, love, and energy to make it possible.

Thank you to the Posey family and to Worthington Presbyterian Church for continuing a tradition that has made Easter sweeter for so many children over so many years.

Columbus Division of Police
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department
Worthington Presbyterian Church

Recently, we teamed up with the Dublin Police and Meijer to help a young girl whose bicycle had been damaged beyond repa...
03/09/2026

Recently, we teamed up with the Dublin Police and Meijer to help a young girl whose bicycle had been damaged beyond repair. Her hardworking single mom was doing everything she could, but replacing the bike just wasn’t possible right now.

Thanks to Starfish donors, we were able to step in and pick out a beautiful new bike along with a few accessories to help her ride safely.

Now she has a way to get to school, visit friends, and enjoy the freedom a bike brings just as the weather starts turning nice again.

We’re grateful to the officers who connected us with this family, to Meijer for helping make the day special, and to the donors who help us make moments like this possible.

City of Dublin, Ohio - Government

On this Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we pause to say thank you. Thank you for your service, your commitment, and th...
01/09/2026

On this Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we pause to say thank you. Thank you for your service, your commitment, and the steady presence you provide every day. You are valued and loved, always.

Recently, Columbus Police Officer Colby Scott met a woman who had fallen on hard times. She was sleeping outside and nee...
12/28/2025

Recently, Columbus Police Officer Colby Scott met a woman who had fallen on hard times. She was sleeping outside and needed immediate help with basic necessities to stay safe and warm. He also connected her with resources and agencies that could assist with longer-term support.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Officer Scott was able to step in right away and provide what she needed in that moment. We are grateful to him and to everyone who makes it possible for us to respond when someone needs help most.

Columbus Division of Police
Columbus Department of Public Safety

Address

Columbus, OH

Telephone

+16148226323

Website

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