The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Campus Police Department, in partnership with several local law enforcement entities and faith-based organizations, is hosting the Faith & Blue Field Day and Church in the Park events free to the public Saturday, October 8, and Sunday, October 9.
The Faith & Blue Field Day will be held Saturday, October 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Health Sciences Park, Madison Avenue and S. Dunlap Street. The field day will include games, food, and activities for families.
The Faith & Blue Church in the Park will take place Sunday, October 9, from 9 a.m. to noon, in Health Sciences Park. This event will feature a church service with food and a giveaway of personal items to those in need.
“We are excited about UTHSC’s first year of participation in The Faith & Blue Initiative,” said Anthony Berryhill, chief of the UTHSC Campus Police Department. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the those of us in law enforcement and the area’s faith-based community to join in bridging the gap to unify relationships within the Medical District.”
In 2020, the national Faith & Blue initiative was established by MovementForward, Inc., a social change organization working with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) at the U.S. Department of Justice. Faith & Blue was launched to facilitate safer, stronger, more just, and unified communities by enabling local partnerships among law enforcement professionals, residents, businesses, and community groups in connection with local faith-based organizations.
“We are looking forward to joining with area law enforcement, Southwest Tennessee Community College, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Baptist Health Sciences University, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI), Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC), Delta Sigma Theta Memphis Alumnae Chapter, and the area faith-based organizations including Tabernacle of Praise, First Lauderdale Baptist Church, The Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee, Grace Temple Ministries, Greater New Liberty M.B. Church, and Mississippi Blvd Christian Church,” Chief Berryhill said. “We are enthusiastic about this collaboration, as a sign of solidarity, and we are hopeful that we can serve as an example to the City of Memphis of the need of demonstrating peace, respect, and understanding in our diverse community.”
Please contact Desirée Blaine, administrative coordinator for the chief of the UTHSC Campus Police, at 901.448.6450 for more information.