Rollingwood Chief of Police Dayne Pryor said he got "choked up" seeing the sign and ribbons citizens placed around the community to show support for the police department.[/caption]
When Rollingwood Chief of Police Dayne Pryor got in his squad car a few days ago, he was not expecting to see a large banner that read “We support our Rollingwood police” strapped to the fence around the baseball field at Rollingwood Park.
“We didn’t know where [the banner] had come from,” he said.
On April 6, a group of neighborhood children came by the police station and dropped off gifts and baked goods for all the officers, Pryor said.
Then large, blue ribbons started popping up all over Rollingwood, on the mailboxes and tied to trees, he said. Attached to the ribbons are the words “Thanks! Rollingwood Police.”
“It was such a surprise to everybody,” he said.
The signs and gifts are part of the Police Appreciation Day initiative spearheaded by City Council member Roxanne McKee, who serves as liaison to the police department.
Originally, the celebration consisted of a dinner April 9 at County Line Bar-B-Q with police officers and their families.
But McKee said she knew she also wanted to involve the community somehow.
“Those of us who live in Rollingwood, we very much appreciate that we live in such a wonderful, peaceful community and we attribute that in part to a very good police force with dedicated officers, some of whom have been with us for a very long time,” she said. “I just felt motivated to take the time to appreciate them.”
Rollingwood citizens hung blue ribbons around mailboxes and trees to show their thanks for the Rollingwood Police Department.[/caption]
With the help of the Rollingwood Women’s Club, the Rollingwood Gentlemen’s Club, the Rollingwood Neighborhood Association and private donations, McKee was able to purchase and tie nearly 300 blue ribbons to mailboxes to show support for the police department. The group also purchased the banner and provided dinner for the officers and their families.
She said feedback from the community has been extremely positive.
Ray Eve “Bunny” Michel, who lives on Vance Street, has a blue ribbon on her mailbox.
“We’re so fortunate that we have our own police department that takes care of our community,” she said. “They keep our neighborhood safe.”
Residents Meredith Stanford and Ashley Horne agree with Michel, saying they appreciate the police being knowledgeable about what goes on in the community.
“They do so much for us,” Horne said. “They are amazing.”
Pryor said he got “choked up” after seeing the blue ribbons around Rollingwood.
“It’s such a great time for this because there’s just been so much negativity out there, and police officers are just scared to do their job, and then something like this happens, and it’s just perfect,” Pryor said.
He said his 12 officers were “touched” by the community response and that they are looking forward to dinner Saturday night.
“When we all get to get together like this, it’s a lot of fun and so important,” he said.
Rollingwood Chief of Police Dayne Pryor said he got "choked up" seeing the sign and ribbons citizens placed around the community to show support for the police department.[/caption]
When Rollingwood Chief of Police Dayne Pryor got in his squad car a few days ago, he was not expecting to see a large banner that read “We support our Rollingwood police” strapped to the fence around the baseball field at Rollingwood Park.
“We didn’t know where [the banner] had come from,” he said.
On April 6, a group of neighborhood children came by the police station and dropped off gifts and baked goods for all the officers, Pryor said.
Then large, blue ribbons started popping up all over Rollingwood, on the mailboxes and tied to trees, he said. Attached to the ribbons are the words “Thanks! Rollingwood Police.”
“It was such a surprise to everybody,” he said.
The signs and gifts are part of the Police Appreciation Day initiative spearheaded by City Council member Roxanne McKee, who serves as liaison to the police department.
Originally, the celebration consisted of a dinner April 9 at County Line Bar-B-Q with police officers and their families.
But McKee said she knew she also wanted to involve the community somehow.
“Those of us who live in Rollingwood, we very much appreciate that we live in such a wonderful, peaceful community and we attribute that in part to a very good police force with dedicated officers, some of whom have been with us for a very long time,” she said. “I just felt motivated to take the time to appreciate them.”
Rollingwood citizens hung blue ribbons around mailboxes and trees to show their thanks for the Rollingwood Police Department.[/caption]
With the help of the Rollingwood Women’s Club, the Rollingwood Gentlemen’s Club, the Rollingwood Neighborhood Association and private donations, McKee was able to purchase and tie nearly 300 blue ribbons to mailboxes to show support for the police department. The group also purchased the banner and provided dinner for the officers and their families.
She said feedback from the community has been extremely positive.
Ray Eve “Bunny” Michel, who lives on Vance Street, has a blue ribbon on her mailbox.
“We’re so fortunate that we have our own police department that takes care of our community,” she said. “They keep our neighborhood safe.”
Residents Meredith Stanford and Ashley Horne agree with Michel, saying they appreciate the police being knowledgeable about what goes on in the community.
“They do so much for us,” Horne said. “They are amazing.”
Pryor said he got “choked up” after seeing the blue ribbons around Rollingwood.
“It’s such a great time for this because there’s just been so much negativity out there, and police officers are just scared to do their job, and then something like this happens, and it’s just perfect,” Pryor said.
He said his 12 officers were “touched” by the community response and that they are looking forward to dinner Saturday night.
“When we all get to get together like this, it’s a lot of fun and so important,” he said.
