FLUSHING, MI -- More than 100 people waved flags and sang patriotic songs in unison during a “We Back the Badge” rally Thursday night at Riverview Park in Flushing.
Organizer Roland Szukhent said the event was meant to show appreciation for law enforcement officials and included speeches, songs, and a march through the city’s downtown area.
The event comes amid criticism nationwide of police actions during large protests and viral videos of police shootings.
“I hope people appreciate police officers,” Szukhent said. “They’re the first ones you call when something goes wrong, and we all know that they’re there for our help.”
Among those present Thursday night was Angie Latesky.
She served with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office for more than 20 years before her retirement, out of a want to serve people and the local communities.
“I think that our law enforcement still needs to know as a community we still support them,” she said. “One bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch, regardless of where that happened.”
Mike Bowen, of Flushing, works with many police officers as a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, a group that assists in honoring fallen veterans.
“Not defund them. That the main thing,” he said of showing support for police. “Be respectful. If you get a chance, buy them a cup of coffee. Say thank you. Little simple things because they’re like soldiers, but they go to war every day.”
Flushing Mayor Joe Karlichek and State Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, showed up in support of the event.
Horn spoke of spending a day with the Saginaw Township Police Department and the split-second actions officers have to make on a daily basis.
“Folks, remember law enforcement officers are people like you and me,” he told the assembled crowd. “They have families like you and me. They do tough jobs that we probably couldn’t and won’t do.”
Karlichek said residents need to support officers “not just with words but with action.”
“We are not in the position of defunding our police officers,” he commented. “We are here to fund our police officers. Our police officers need the tools, they need the equipment necessary to do the job.”
Hundreds gathered on July 7 in Flushing for a Black Lives Matter protest, which Karlichek did not attend.
“We need to support our police officers, not just with words but with action,” he said. “We are not in the position of defunding our police officers. We are here to fund our police officers. Our police officers need the tools, they need the equipment necessary to do the job.”
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