By Samantha Sinclair
Staff Writer
Lavonia — The community will get the opportunity to meet and spend time with local police officers during Faith and Blue Weekend Oct. 8-9.
On Saturday, the Lavonia Police Department will host an event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park behind city hall with free food and inflatables for families to enjoy.
Both the Georgia State Patrol and Motor Carrier Compliance Division will be there, and the state patrol will bring its helicopter for families to see.
Local churches and faith leaders have also been invited to participate in the event.
Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle said the event is a time for the community to come together.
It also allows the community to meet officers, “and see that they’re real people, too,” he said.
Carlisle noted he has a couple new officers for the community to meet.
On Sunday, individual officers will attend church services and speak to congregations.
Faith and Blue is a national event, organized for Oct. 7-10 this year due to the Columbus Day holiday.
It was started in 2020 to build safer, stronger and unified communities by working on partnerships with law enforcement and the community through connections of faith-based organizations.
Carlisle said the event allows everyone to reflect on what they have in common.
“There’s so much negativity going on in the world,” Carlisle said. “There are so many things in the world we do agree on.”
One thing in agreement is a safe environment for families, Carlisle said.
The police department is hosting the event with the Lavonia Lions Club and local churches.