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United States News Title: Enon Tabernacle honors law enforcement agencies Law enforcement officers received special accolades for their service to the community during Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church’s 6th annual law enforcement awards ceremony on Friday. Relations between the African-American community and law enforcement are strained throughout the nation but Enon Tabernacle pastor the Rev. Alyn E. Waller recognizes the valuable service law enforcement officers provide the public. “This ceremony was not in response to the national conversation going on right now between our community and law enforcement,” said Waller. “We stand with all those who are critical of portions of law enforcement, police and brutality and so forth. This is a conversation that’s been going.” Waller said its important to recognize the good that they do and the wonderful officers that exist. “So as we challenge the rogue element and the systemic issues, we point to the best and brightest that is in that community,” Waller said. The ceremony, said Waller, was a way of saying that not all law enforcement is bad, that there is a need for firefighters, law enforcement and corrections officers and to celebrate those who do their jobs well. For the past 6 years, Enon has accepted nominations from members of the public for the various awards given during the ceremony. From those nominations, the honorees were selected. This year, Enon announced a new project during the ceremony. “We worked with the Civic Guardian League and the Valiants, which is the African-American organizations within the police and fire departments, to begin the process of creating a fund for the children of slain police officers or firefighters who died in the line of duty in the African-American community.” One of those honored during the event was William T. Byrd who received the distinguished officer’s award. Byrd started his career in law enforcement 45 years ago where he began patrolling in his hometown of Aliquippa. Later Byrd would go on to become the first African-American appointed to detective in the Beaver County district attorney’s office. From that came a long line of promotions and advances that lasted until his retirement. Since joining the force in 1966, Byrd has seen a lot of changes in the force but one of the most apparent changes he has seen was the training of police recruits. “A lot of the smaller departments didn’t have police academies like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and other major cities, today it’s a requirement for all police officers.” Others awarded were: State Trooper Charles T. Bailey, who received the Knights of Justice Award; Corrections Officer Laird A. Thomas who was awarded the Correctional Officers Award; Senior Specialist Willie C. Byrd, who was given the Distinguished Police Service Award; Officer Richard Greger who received the Honor Award for Public Service; Officer Robert Mulholland, who was awarded the General Commendation Award; Officer Jeffrey Opalski was awarded the Merit Award for Excellence; Jahlon Williams was honored with the Civilian Medal of Appreciation and officers Michelle Casey, Byron Dawson, Cherron Logan, Joseph Moresi and Tara Pavgouzas were honored with the Life Saving Awards. Officer Stephen Opalski was given the Law Enforcement Purple Heart award and a special honor was paid to Sgt. Robert F. Wilson, III, who was killed in the line of duty earlier in the year. Wilson was given the Silver Star of Bravery Award posthumously. =============== gtChurch pastor plans services in praise of law enforcement Herald-review.com http://herald-review.com/lifestyles/gtchurch-pastor-plans-services-in-praise-of- law-enforcement/article_b2199498-41d3-592f-8e89-8bb0d6a7eb52.html May 16, 2015 HUEY FREEMAN DECATUR – The late Rev. B.G. Nevitt, lead pastor of gtChurch at the time of his death, also served as a chaplain and auxiliary sergeant with the Decatur Police Department. His successor, the Rev. Matt Samuels, shares Nevitt's passion for supporting law enforcement. “I want to honor them,” said Samuels, who served as gt's music minister for 20 years before Nevitt lost his life in a motorcycle accident in August 2013. “I'm going to ask my church family to commit prayer time every day to pray for people in law enforcement.” Samuels was constantly taught by his father, the Rev. Glenn Samuels, who served as a pastor in Newcastle, Pa., that police officers were his friends. “He instilled in me a love for Jesus and love for people and a respect for men and women in law enforcement,” Samuels said. The recent events in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore, in which many people have expressed anger and hostility toward the police, have stirred Samuels to express an alternative viewpoint. “We're hearing so much negative press about our men and women in law enforcement,” Samuels said. “Primarily it seems like the focus is on race. I thought it was really important as a black man and as a leader in our community to show I'm behind them. Our church family is behind them.” Samuels compares the attitudes of those who complain about police officers to the brothers of David, the young warrior who slayed the giant, Goliath. “They weren't brave enough to do it, but they were tearing down the one who was brave enough,” Samuels said. “I don't have the guts to be a police officer. If you don't have the guts to protect the public, what right to you have to put down and condemn those who do? The people who are judging, complaining, running down the police, what are they doing to bring peace to the community?” The message for the three services on Sunday will be called: "You Make Me Brave." “Just the fact that they're willing to put themselves in harm's way for the public, they deserve honor,” Samuels said, adding that when officers go out for their daily shifts, it could be their last day. “When they say good-bye to their families it really might be good-bye.” Samuels said he is inspired by officers to challenge his congregants to step up and do something to improve the community. “I'm going to challenge my church family to step up,” Samuels said. “We are going to pray for them, that God will give them the bravery, the courage to go out there and protect us. We will speak positively for them and support them. They have our backs and we want to have their backs in prayer.” Jay Scott, Macon County State's Attorney, said he plans to attend all three services. “I think its a great idea,” Scott said. “I applaud the pastor for standing up and supporting law enforcement.
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