The Henderson Vance Crime Stoppers kicked off National Police Week by giving area law enforcement officers a pat on the back – and a complimentary breakfast.
Frankie Nobles is president of the local Crime Stoppers organization and he said Wednesday’s breakfast included an awards ceremony to recognize a number of people who serve the community.
The event was held at J.R.’s Restaurant 39, and owners J.R. Stainback and wife Harley received Business of the Year award for their efforts to support local law enforcement. The Crime Stoppers group holds its monthly meetings at Restaurant 39, Nobles said, noting the “many things they do for Crime Stoppers and our community.”
Nobles told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that Clearview Baptist Church footed the bill for the breakfast, which fed more than 100 law enforcement officers and other local leaders who joined in to say thank you.
“These officers need this recognition,” Nobles said. “They need to know how important they are to our community.”
The breakfast is just a small show of support for the men and women who dedicate themselves to keeping the community safe. “Law enforcement agents…put their lives on the line every day, and the community just doesn’t recognize that enough,” Nobles said.
He said the breakfast gives officers from different agencies the opportunity to mingle and to support each other, too.
“If (that’s) just a little something we can do, that’s what we’ll do,” Nobles said, adding that if the officers can come in and be stress-free for the 30 minutes or so to eat breakfast, “it was all worth it.”
The Henderson Police Department’s Gregory Hunter received the Sam Pearson Memorial Award.
Detective Andrew Bishop of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office received the Tom Long Memorial Award award; Sgt. Akira Alston received the detention officer award and Trooper J.P. Taylor was honored for State Highway Patrol officer of the year.
Heather Lovings, a member of the support staff for Vance County Animal Services, was honored for her work as well. “It’s not always about the officer handling the cases, but also about the support person,” Nobles said.
Nobles said the recipient of the VGCC law enforcement award will receive his award on Friday, so the announcement will be made public at that time.
This is the first year that wildlife officers have joined the group, and Nobles said he hoped they would participate in future events.