MPD Meets With Local Clergy In National Faith & Blue Event

By KRISTI TAUSINGA

The Progress

Participants from Mesquite Police Department (MPD) and members of the local clergy from many different denominations came together to participate in the National Faith and Blue Weekend on the morning of Friday, Oct. 8.

Mesquite United Methodist Church hosted the event which included a wonderful breakfast prepared by members of the Methodist Church.

The National Faith and Blue Weekend is a collaborative initiative that seeks to build bridges and break down biases though activities and outreach amongst law enforcement professionals and the communities they serve. The event is based on the premise that strong communities are built on mutual respect, trust and understanding.

This is the first time MPD and the local churches have participated in this national event.
Pastor Bruce Whisenhunt of the Christian Community Church led the introduction of the event. He stated that MPD Chief MaQuade Chesley reached out to the faith community about the event. Members of the clergy agreed it would be a great time to come together, he said.

Pastor Wendy Swanson of Mesquite United Methodist Church spearheaded the event and offered her church facility for the breakfast as well as an amazing kitchen staff.

Officers were placed at each table and participants were given an opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversation with them. From around the room there were many productive and powerful conversations resulting in building positive relationships.

Whisenhunt thanked MPD and stated, “We appreciate the officers and what they do for our community.”
Pastor Wendy Swanson echoed that statement and also stated, “God’s people can all come together in times of darkness.”

Rabbi Zukerman opened the event with a prayer which powerfully stated, “Faith is an important aspect of who we are.”

When the event came to a close, Leslie Montgomery from the food bank and thrift store shared how much she enjoyed the event and also thanked the faith community for their help with food and donations the last year. She praised the faith community and the citizens of Mesquite for their generous donations over the last year and a half.

Pastor Bruce Whisenhunt closed the event and shared some statistics from MPD. He advised that within the last five years the daily calls for service have gone from an average of 30-35 calls to an average of 80 calls. In addition, there have not been any more officers added to the staff in that time, he said.

Whisenhunt also shared some of the community outreach programs Mesquite PD is involved in including Trunk or Treat, Coffee with a Cop, Shop with a Cop, Cops and Pops, the DREAM program and Mesquite Night Out.

The event ended with a group photo of the representatives from the Mesquite Police Department and the leaders of the religious institutions that were represented.

For more information about the annual Faith and Blue event visit faithandblue.org.