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President Ogden Promotes National Faith & Blue Weekend

Earlier today, IACLEA President Patrick Ogden spoke at a press conference at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C.  Click here to watch it. Ogden's remarks begin at 50:15. The event promoted the upcoming National Faith & Blue Weekend (Oct. 8-11). IACLEA began a partnership with Faith & Blue earlier this year.

The National Faith & Blue Weekend organizers represent every major national law enforcement membership and professional organization in the United States and every faith tradition. The effort is being co-convened by MovementForward, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Office. National Faith & Blue Weekend is sponsored by FirstNet Built with AT&T and the Motorola Solutions Foundation.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Marcia Ferranto kicked off the event, followed by a five-minute overview of the upcoming weekend, with remarks by Faith & Blue’s the Rev. Markel Hutchins.

IACLEA President, Chief Patrick OgdenPartner organizations were each given three minutes to speak. Association President Patrick Ogden said, “IACLEA is honored to have the opportunity to partner with National Faith & Blue Weekend in this noble effort to build stronger relationships between houses of worship and law enforcement entities. We are at a time of unprecedented crossroads in our country, with challenges at many fronts; and at IACLEA, we recognize that collaboration between police agencies and faith institutions will enhance trust in the communities we are sworn to serve.

“As we take time to reflect upon this past year and prepare for the years ahead, police and faith leaders have a unique opportunity to be catalysts for positive change by creating a culture of innovation through creative vision,” Ogden continued.  

“I am confident that brighter days are ahead, based on partnerships like Faith & Blue that are committed to providing high quality, contemporary and forward-thinking programs to ensure we are aligned to rebuild trust and enhance accountability, while forging a constructive path forward. I am humbled to stand here today with our partnering organizations to join Faith & Blue to inspire communities to host mutual gatherings centered around service projects, athletic contests, picnics, forums, and other activities,” Ogden added.    

“On a personal note, I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Rev. Markel Hutchins and his Movement Forward Team over the past several months and in that capacity, I’ve witnessed his passion, enthusiasm, and tireless work ethic,” Ogden said.

Other partner organizations in attendance included the Fraternal Order of Police, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the National Black Police Association, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the National Sheriffs Association.

The Rev. Markel Hutchins concluded the event by recognizing other partnering organizations, including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the National Assoc. of Assistant United States Attorneys, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and Museum, the National Narcotics Officers’ Association Coalition, the National Police Foundation, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and state sheriffs’ and police chiefs’ associations across the United States.

"America's law enforement professionals need our country. They need the faith community. The greatest challenge that we have in this moment is fear—fear of one another. That's what drives so much crime and violence and so many assaults on officers. We need every faith community and every law enforcement agency to get involved [in National Faith & Blue Weekend]," Hutchins said at the close of the event.

"We have built partnerships with more than 50 different professional and law enforcement associations and we have built partnerships with chiefs and sheriffs associations in 45 of the 50 states," Hutchins continued. "We are working as hard as we can to build a movement in this country. It's time for the American people—especially the faith community—to get involved. They want to get involved, they want to get engaged and they want to make a difference. And we believe we have created the resources that are necessary to unlock the keys to being engaged with the faith community."

Are you interested in participating in National Faith & Blue Weekend? If so, join Faith & Blue and IACLEA for a virtual meeting from 1-2 p.m. ET on Sept. 8. Click here to learn more, as well as to register and attend.

 

 



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