Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Joins Faith and Blue Weekend Celebration to Foster Safer Communities
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina is set to collaborate with citizens and the faith community to celebrate the 2023 National Faith and Blue Weekend. Running from Thursday, October 5th to Sunday, October 9th, this event aims to strengthen the connection between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve through the involvement of the faith community and houses of worship.
Sheriff Mike Crenshaw of Oconee County expressed the purpose behind the National Faith and Blue Weekend, which was established in 2020. He emphasized the importance of building bridges between law enforcement agencies and the citizens through the active participation of the faith community. The vision of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is to create safer communities by fostering partnerships.
The Oconee County celebration of the 2023 National Faith and Blue Weekend will feature various events. On Thursday, October 5th, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Cook Team will be organizing the first annual Faith and Blue Community Cook. This event, open to the public, will take place in the main parking lot of the Oconee County Law Enforcement Center in Walhalla.
The following day, Friday, October 6th, the first annual Faith and Blue Open-House Luncheon will be held from Noon to 2pm. This event is exclusively for pastors and clergy of Oconee County churches and houses of worship, with the local Foothills Community Church in Seneca providing the food. Afterward, participants will have the opportunity to take a tour of the Oconee County Law Enforcement Center, the Oconee County Detention Center, and the Christ Central Ministries/Oconee Addiction and Recovery Solutions facility at the old Oconee County Detention Center.
On Saturday, October 7th, citizens are invited to join law enforcement and faith community leaders in the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Annual National Faith and Blue CommUNITY Walk. This walk will take place on the walking track at the Shaver Recreation Complex in Seneca, beginning at 8:30am. Following the walk, Sheriff Crenshaw and other officials will address the participants.
During the National Faith and Blue Weekend, the Sheriff’s Office also encourages congregations to pray for law enforcement and their communities during worship services. Additionally, they urge churches and houses of worship to allow law enforcement officers to address their respective congregations should they wish to do so.
By actively involving the faith community, law enforcement agencies like the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office hope to strengthen relationships with citizens and foster safer communities. The National Faith and Blue Weekend provides an opportunity for law enforcement officers and community members to come together, build bridges, and work towards creating a safer environment for everyone.
