Law enforcement supporters of all stripes gathered at Iola’s Riverside Park Saturday to “Support The Blue.”
A free concert and hot dog feed were highlights as citizens from across the county milled about the park.
Among the events:
— Free music from The Neosho River Boys, Iola police officer David Shelby and his group and the Harvest Baptist Praise Band filled the air with tunes on a glorious late afternoon.
— Iola’s Community Involvement Task Force/PRIDE Committee and Kiwanis clubs offered up free food, cotton candy and train rides for youngsters throughout the three-hour affair.
— Inflatable attractions, typically reserved for youngsters, made up an obstacle course for Iola Police Chief Jared Warner and Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy to traverse as part of a light-hearted race. (For the record, Warner made it through the array of tubes, climbing wall and escape chute about 15 seconds before Murphy emerged.)
— Wives of Iola police officers sold “support the blue” T-shirts, emblazoned with messages of support on the back. A good portion of the 270 shirts ordered were sold on Saturday, although more can be ordered if demand persists. To inquire about purchasing a shirt, check on the respective wives’ Facebook pages.
THE IMPETUS for Saturday’s get-together came about after hearing about would-be protests against law enforcement elsewhere across the state and country that instead turned into neighborhood block parties.
Local CITF/PRIDE members originally thought about hosting a “support the blue” fundraiser, but the logistics and number of other groups willing to support the effort quickly prompted a shift in focus, organizer Mike Ford said.
“We decided to do a community event instead” said Ford, who also serves as IPD’s community resource officer, as well as a Kiwanian.
A common theme throughout the event was kinship, noted both Warner and Murphy, who introduced the officers attending from their respective departments.
“We’re thankful to live in a community that shows us this much support,” Warner said.
