United In Blue Preview

Today, law enforcement agencies from the Mississippi Gulf Coast united to extend a special welcome to the families of the police officers killed and injured in Baton Rouge this July. News 25’s Hank Davis brings us the story.
Blue lights stretched down Interstate 10 as officers from agencies throughout south Mississippi formed a motorcade to welcome the families of police officers that were killed and wounded in the city of Baton Rouge earlier this year. The purpose of their visit is the United in Blue police benefit, where the public is welcome to enjoy live music, food and drink, participate in a live auction, and have a chance to meet, and hopefully heal, with a few of the men and women affected by police shootings in our neighboring state.

Zach Grady with the Di’berville Police Department said, “I don’t want to say I was shocked but I can definitely tell you that it’s been an overwhelming experience. not only the love and support that we have from the local agencies, but also from the community, the businesses, the people, because without all of that none of this would be possible.”

It was an emotional experience for the families as they got to witness the support of many of the Coast’s police departments first hand.

Trenisha Jackson said, “I just felt honored, it was a privilege for all of the officers to come in and show support and hold up traffic for us so I just want to say thank you.”

Dechia Gerald said, “Every time you turn the news on you see a shooting of a cop happening, i’m hoping that stuff like this will ease all of that and it will quit happening.”

Bruce Simmons, one of the officers injured in the July 17th ambush, is set to be honored at the event and he tells News 25 that the support has meant a great deal in Baton Rouge.

Bruce Simmons said, “Our community came together after the shooting, it was tremendous the support we got. Then of course we had the flood August 13th and a lot of people were affected. Our house got flooded. That kind of soothed everything down, but the community came together even more.”

The benefit starts tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Golden Nugget in Biloxi, and local police departments are urging the public to come out and show their support for their guests of honor.
Gulfport Police Department Public Information Officer said, “This isn’t a benefit that just has a title to it, this is something that’s going to affect these lives and really impact these families, so we just really encourage everyone to come out.”