The fifth annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner held Thursday evening at the Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center was called a success by the organizer, Hattiesburg Clinic Heart & Vascular.
The event recognized and showed appreciation to area law enforcement officers, and who were treated to a meal catered by Mack’s on the River.
Law enforcement personnel enjoyed a catered meal from Mack’s On the River during the fifth annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner on Thursday night.
“We had about 100-150 who attended,” Frances Findley said. “I was very pleased with the response. What we are finding out is that everyone is staying longer so they can visit, get together and talk.”
The dinner was scheduled for four hours during a shift change so that more officers would be able to attend, Findley said.
“Not only was law enforcement able to visit with other departments,” she said, “but they could talk with officers in their own department that might not see each other because of working different shifts.”
The dinner was designed to make sure the law enforcement personnel could relax.
Lamar County Sheriff’s Office Investigator David Bullock inspects one of the new Glock handguns on display during the fifth annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner on Thursday night.
“The men and women of law enforcement who serve our communities face challenging situations on a daily basis,” Findley said. “We choose to honor them with an evening of good food, fellowship, and a chance to relax and enjoy an event that is meant to show our appreciation for all they do.”
Law enforcement officers from local agencies included Lamar County Sheriff’s Department, Forrest County Sheriff’s Department, Hattiesburg Police Department, Purvis Police Department, Petal Police Department, USM Police Department, Forrest General Hospital Police Department, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol’s Troop J division.
Businesses that sponsored or donated to the event included Mack’s on the River; American Graphics; Coca-Cola of Hattiesburg; Forrest County Board of Supervisors; James Lynn Cartlidge Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center; Wal-Mart; Hattiesburg Clinic Optical Shop, and others.
Frances Finley looks over some of the door prizes that were awarded during the fifth annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner on Thursday.
Several door prizes were awarded during the event, including an AR-15, a Glock pistol, air fryer for a turkey, 50-inch television, gun case, and several gift cards.