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Back the Blue rally held in park

Approximately 250 people rallied around local law enforcement Sunday at Muskingum Park’s gazebo.

The Back the Blue rally saw participants walking from Fourth and Putnam streets to the park, where they peacefully gathered in support of local police.

Kim Walters, event coordinator, told the crowd she has seen enough of law enforcement being vilified.

“I don’t know about you all, but I am tired of watching riots across the country. I am tired of seeing our law enforcement across this country losing funding to their departments, and attempts of it being disbanded,” she said. “I have seen enough and it’s making me sick.”

She said she was tired of assaults on the police department and elected officials not stepping up to condemn the violence.

Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher said he’s extremely honored and proud to serve as mayor with the men and women on the Marietta Police Department.

“One of the most important things you can do in city government is public safety and law enforcement,” he said.

Marietta police has a staff of 40 under the command of Police Chief Rodney Hupp, a 27-year veteran of the department. Schlicher said in 2019, the department arrested 1,030 adults, 85 juveniles, investigated 320 traffic crashes and issued 1,431 traffic violations and 1,885 parking tickets.

“I will stand on the front line any time with our police officers,” he said. “I will respect them and honor them and I will support them to the best of my ability.”

He said there were discussions for him to possibly speak at the recent Black Lives Matter rally, but there were a lot of people lined up to speak. He was at the rally as he thought the message was positive. He said he decided to speak at Sunday’s rally because of the subject matter.

“(Sunday’s) event showcases one of our core government services,” he said.

Chief Deputy Mark Warden said he was honored to represent Sheriff Larry Mincks “and the over 100 individual strong of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.”

He said members of law enforcement do their jobs because of the paycheck. Their paychecks to pay bills and send kids to college comes every two weeks.

“What we’re seeing here is a paycheck to the soul,” he said, noting that when people come up and say ‘thank you for your service’, it’s a paycheck to the soul.

“Without you, our department doesn’t function,” he explained. “It’s your support that makes us strong.”

This wasn’t the first law enforcement rally for Ohio Rep. Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville. Walters said six to eight weeks ago in Athens County, there was a similar walking rally. Edwards posted a video on social media of him walking to his car while people yelled and cursed at him, along with throwing water and water bottles at him.

“People who hate law enforcement hate laws,” Edwards said.

People lately have been making things partisan, although the issue is plain and simple common sense.

“I’m not saying black lives don’t matter, but blue lives and white lives and everyone else also matter. Hypocrisy is through the roof,” he said, noting you can’t poke the bear, but people can’t continue to let the violence happen. “It’s time we have the backs of the people who have our backs.”

Walters said she got a message from Lowell resident Skylar Steward who wanted to speak during the event. She said Steward was exactly the type of person she wanted to speak.

After calling members of law enforcement to the front near the gazebo, he explained he hasn’t always been a “stellar citizen”. He was arrested shortly after his 18th birthday and partied and drank too much.

He said they made a difference and they should hear it from someone on the other side of the law. A lot of people are waging war on law enforcement, but the community needed to start coming together.

“These men and women are just trying to get home to their families,” he said, adding the police are not the public’s enemy and if people get into trouble, own it.

“Marietta is a hell of a place to live because of these men and women,” he noted.

Jenna Walters, 18, said she is the daughter of a police officer and grew up around law enforcement. She said she couldn’t imagine living in a community where police was looked at as criminals.

“Our officers are the most selfless people I know,” she said, adding their families are the most supportive people she knows.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 12 President and Marietta Police Sgt. Errol Kramer said the FOP tries to engage the community outside of law enforcement. They have a picnic every summer for local kids as a way to engage them in a way that doesn’t come off as authoritarian.

“More than ever, kids need to know that the police are their friends,” he said to applause.

He said they are demonized by the media and social media and so kids look at them with fear. It makes him mad and he always stops when he hears parents tell their kids the police are taking them to jail.

“Sometimes I think it’s no wonder the police are hated,” he said. “I’m asking you to train your kids to let them know we are here to help. It’s just something we need to put a stop to. They need to stop running away from us and start running toward us.”

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.

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