Law Enforcement Appreciation Day event held Sunday in Felton

FELTON, Del. – With the raising of the American and Thin Blue Line flags, people on Sunday stood together in silence to honor the law enforcement community.

“The men and women of the Delaware law enforcement need that support,” said John Horsman, former chief of the Delaware Capitol Police and chairman of the Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial Committee.

On Sunday the organization, A Walk in Their Shoes held a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day event at the Pizzadelli Vineyard and Winery in Felton to uplift the spirits of local police officers.

“I do all I can to support them and events like these reassure me as I assume they reassure the officers that we care,” said Susanne Whitney

“I mean there really isn’t any other way to put it,” said Whitney, “We give a darn.”

Firefighters and vendors also came out to the event. Retired police chief John Horsman says lately there’s been a lot of anti-police sentiment in the country so the support is needed.

“They’re seeing the negative part of what’s going on in this country and it is affecting them,” said Horsman.

On top of that, he says the destruction of the Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial back in June also took a hit on the community.

“It is the place that we go to remember our fallen,” said Horsman, “Many of the names that are on there are people that I knew.”

Ultimately, people who spoke to 47ABC say events like this are needed to help strengthen police officers and remind each other of the work they do to protect everyone.

“All of that is part of that thin blue line,” said Horsman, “It can’t be broken.”

The event also helped raise money for the repair and maintenance of the Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial in Dover.

Click here for more information about the organization A Walk in Their Shoes.