QUINCY -- John Frank said he takes time to thank military personnel and emergency responders for their service whenever he has the chance.
So it made sense that Frank, a Quincy resident who attended First Union Congregational Church Sunday, would take one of several free signs reading "We support our local law enforcement" from a stack in the church's lobby after Sunday's service. He said he appreciated having the signs on hand.
"They're here for our good and to punish those who do wrong," Frank said of law enforcement. "They're the authority figure and we should be supporting them for that -- and cooperating."
The Friends of Law Enforcement, a Quincy community group spearheaded by Lee Lindsay, agrees. The group distributed 250 signs to a dozen churches Sunday to give community members the chance to make Quincy police officers, Adams County sheriff's deputies and Illinois State Police troopers "feel the love," Lindsay said.
"Law enforcement has really taken a hit," she said. "There have been many negative things said about law enforcement, and we know that our lives, our safety and our communities depend on those men and women who step up and protect us. We wanted them to know we appreciate who they are and what they do."
Many communities, including Quincy, have undertaken efforts to show solidarity for their local authorities after three officers were killed in Baton Rouge, La., and five officers were killed in Dallas, Texas, last month. Underbrink's Bakery in Quincy sent hundreds of angel food cupcakes to the Baton Rouge Police Department last month, and Hannibal's First United Methodist Church recently recognized the Hannibal Police Department with a certificate of appreciation and a card signed by community members.
Inspired by a similar sign at a home on Maine, Lindsay and the Friends of Law Enforcement thought other Quincy residents might want signs of their own. Handing them out at several churches served as an efficient way to reach several community members in a short time.
Among the churches that received signs Sunday was First Baptist Church, led by the Rev. Orville Jones. After Sunday's service, Jones described the program as a "wonderful effort" to show support for local officers.
"It's important for us to let our officers know that we are aware of the struggles they face, the dangers they face each day," he said. "I think that's a good thing that they know we're not here to be aggressive with them, so they can treat us a little better than they would otherwise because they're not responding out of fear."
Lindsay said more signs will be printed to distribute at other churches next week. She added an additional pickup location will soon be established.
"We just hope that this will put a smile on the faces of our officers as they go about their duties throughout the community," she said.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
To show additional support to local law enforcement, donations may be made to the Quincy Police Department Citizens Academy, 110 S. Eighth, Quincy; the Adams County Sheriff's Department SWAP Program, 521 Vermont, Quincy; and the Illinois State Police Education Fund, ISP District 20 office, 210 W. Crane, Pittsfield.
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