Community honors, prays for officers
Sep. 23—JEFFERSON — Young children gathered with their parents on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the importance of law enforcement workers at the annual Shield a Badge with a Prayer rally.
More than 50 people came to Ashtabula County Peace Officer Memorial Park in downtown Jefferson to pray for members of Ashtabula County law enforcement.
More than 40 officers and their families attended the event which included Congressman David Joyce as its main speaker. He emphasized the difficult nature of law enforcement jobs, because of the terrible things they see on a regular basis.
"It is something you take with you every day," Joyce said. He was a Geauga County Prosecutor for 25 years, and found himself at many crime scenes over the years
He recalled blinking back tears decades ago when an abandoned baby was found in rural Geauga County. He thanked the officers for their service, which allows people to pursue liberty and day-to-day life.
Joyce said he is fighting to make sure police officers' service time is eventually applied to their years of social security eligibility if they leave the profession or transfer from a law enforcement union that is separate from Social Security.
Eastern County Court Judge Harold Specht, a long-time prosecutor himself, was master of ceremonies, and heralded the work of the law enforcement community. He said it has been 10 years since the event first took place, and a lot has changed in the county and the country.
"We have to show our law enforcement officers that we love them and support them," Specht said
Rev. Michael Cline, of the Community Pentecostal Church of Jefferson, prayed for the officers, and used an example of how God uses officers in day to day life. He said the Bible states that those in places of authority should be honored and obeyed.
He prayed for the officers' families, many of whom stood with their family members in a grassy area adjacent to the memorial and the Ashtabula County Courthouse.
Rev. Cecil Cooper, of the Jefferson Nazarene Church, prayed for the officers as well, and asked God grant them the ability to serve the community, often in difficult circumstances.
Many elected officials from the area attended the event, and were recognized by Specht as he closed the ceremony. He also credited Ashtabula County Republican Party Chairman Charlie Frye for coming up with the idea to honor officers 10 years ago.
