Police departments have gotten a bad wrap of late.
Anti-law enforcement [rotests have sprung up across the country over the past year a half in places like Baltimore and Furgeson, Mo.
“There’s so much turmoil in our country right now. It makes me wonder who would want to be a police officer in this day and time,” said Angela Beckles, of Montclair.
Beckles wanted to send a different message — one of respect and support for the men and women who wear the badge. She worked with her church, Heritage Baptist in Woodbridge, which allowed her to use the parking lot to host the “We Love You Blue” rally on Saturday.
She didn’t have any prior relationships with police before the event. She simply called them, explained what her rally was about, and they agreed to come.
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Children were able to see patrol cars, motorcycles, and a mobile tactical command center all used by agencies like Prince Wiliam County Police Department, Dumfries police, and the U.S. Marshalls.
“These people need to know that they are respected for what they do every day,” added Beckles, who is a member of the Barbara Bush Republican Women’s Club in Prince William County.
Beckles saw a uniformed police officer walking toward his cruiser when she got the idea to hold the rally. “When I saw it I said to myself, ‘we love you, blue.”
The rally was held between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Parents brought their children who climbed into the back of a U.S. Marshal’s vehicle. Inside the car, they used a microphone to speak into a loudspeaker.
“Sir, please approach the vehicle for a tour,” said 14-year-old Jack Rogers to passersby.
“A lot of people don’t know what we do” said Marshal Tim Alley. “The kids ask us ‘do you fly on airplanes’ all time.”
Alley’s unit often assists local police in their search for missing people, and in high-profile cases.
Parents also took their children to have free ID cards made by the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office. The cards can be given to police in the event a child is reported missing.
“This is something the sheriff has worked to keep as a free service in the county,” said Lt. Kellie Crespo.
The Sheriff’s Office made 40 ID cards by noon Saturday. The office typically makes 4,000 cards per year, said Crespo.
Certificates were presented to the members of the law enforcement agencies that attended the rally. Bumper stickers with “We Love You Blue” were sold for $2 each to raise awareness for local members of law enforcement.
“I’m just a citizen that wanted to hold a rally for law enforcement,” said Beckles.
