Faith and Blue brings together law enforcement, community
Vehicles from various area law enforcement agencies are parked in Muskingum Park in Marietta as part of the Faith and Blue event, a local tie-in to a national event aimed at building ties between law enforcement and the community. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard presents the colors at the Faith and Blue event Sunday afternoon in Marietta’s Muskingum Park. The event is part of a national effort aimed at building ties between law enforcement and the community. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board, front, stands beside Washington County Sheriff’s Capt. Brian Lockhart during the Faith and Blue event Sunday at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Washington County Sheriff’s Chaplain Kent Hall looks on as a crowd sings “God Bless America” during the Faith and Blue event Sunday afternoon at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Freedom Gate Church Pastor Rodney Lord, right, introduces Lt. Chris Chesar, commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Marietta post, during the Faith and Blue event Sunday at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Vehicles from various area law enforcement agencies are parked in Muskingum Park in Marietta as part of the Faith and Blue event, a local tie-in to a national event aimed at building ties between law enforcement and the community. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard presents the colors at the Faith and Blue event Sunday afternoon in Marietta’s Muskingum Park. The event is part of a national effort aimed at building ties between law enforcement and the community. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board, front, stands beside Washington County Sheriff’s Capt. Brian Lockhart during the Faith and Blue event Sunday at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Washington County Sheriff’s Chaplain Kent Hall looks on as a crowd sings “God Bless America” during the Faith and Blue event Sunday afternoon at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Freedom Gate Church Pastor Rodney Lord, right, introduces Lt. Chris Chesar, commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Marietta post, during the Faith and Blue event Sunday at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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Hundreds of people gathered in Marietta's Muskingum Park Sunday afternoon to celebrate and interact with law enforcement officers from both sides of the Ohio River.
It was the first local observation of the Faith and Blue weekend, an event started two years ago by Movement Forward Inc., a social change organization that pushes for a single standard of justice regardless of race, class and other factors.
The goal of Sunday's event was to help local law enforcement "earn your trust and you earn their trust as well," said Lt. Chris Chesar, commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Marietta Post.
More than 300 people attended, estimated Pastor Rodney Lord, with Freedom Gate Church in Marietta, one of several houses of worship teaming up for the event.
Washington County Sheriff's Capt. Brian Lockhart said the event was a great opportunity to strengthen the bonds of the community.
"It's good for the community and the officers to get involved with each other without something tragic happening," he said.
Pastors from local churches offered prayers and quoted scripture related to God's protection, while the praise team from Porterfield Baptist Church provided music. Inflatables and cornhole boards were set up, and members of the Washington State Community College Criminal Justice program helped serve hamburgers and hot dogs to those in attendance.
Lord said local law enforcement officials were excited about the event and "were the ones leading the charge on this."
He said he hopes to see it become an annual activity that might be held in other parts of the area.
"We expect this event is going to be moving around the Mid-Ohio Valley and gaining in momentum," Lord said.