By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
A group of citizens who Back the Blue created a blue display of support outside the Salina Police Department (SPD) Wednesday night.
Approximately 30 people showed up Wednesday night to help decorate the SPD blue, Peggy Timmons-Hawk told Salina Post.
"We had blue candles, blue flashlights, blue ribbons, and Back the Blue flags," she said.
Chief Brad Nelson expressed gratitude for the group's effort.
"In these times, the SPD is extremely grateful for these publicly initiated signs of support. My wife and I were in attendance along with several other SPD officers. We are blessed to live in such a supportive community. Many thanks to Maggie Mae’s for organizing the event and to those in attendance," Nelson said.
In addition to the decorating, the group said a prayer for law enforcement in attendance, as well as those who were on shift at that time, Timmons-Hawk said.
The event started to come together when Timmons-Hawk's good friend, Dana Blair, called and shared her idea for decorating in blue. The two have organized numerous events in support of local law enforcement, Timmons-Hawk said.
Blair created an event on Facebook and Timmons-Hawk promoted the event at Maggie Mae's Bar and Grill, which is owned by her husband. The group that came together met at Maggie Mae's before the decorating event.
Timmons-Hawk said supporting law enforcement is important to her. She noted that while there are some bad officers in law enforcement in general, most law enforcement personnel, including local personnel, are good people who get a bad rap because of the few bad ones.