HENDRY COUNTY — Sheriff Steve Whidden and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office will take part in the National Faith and Blue Weekend this October, aimed at connecting officers with people in the community through houses of worship.

The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, along with the National Sheriff’s Association and other national law enforcement groups, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and MovementForward Inc.’s One Congregation One Precinct (OneCOP) initiative are jointly organizing the project.

The mission of NFBW is to facilitate safer, stronger and more unified communities by connecting law enforcement officers and residents through local houses of worship. “Finding common ground and ensuring justice for all, starts with collaborative and respectful communication, and the National Faith and Blue Weekend is evidence of leadership by example,” said Jason Porter, senior vice-president, FirstNet Program at AT&T.

“Through its mission-focused and highly diverse group of faith-based and policing organization leaders, this initiative is laser-focused on facilitating positive and actionable community relations between citizens and law enforcement across our nation. As America’s public safety partner, it’s our honor to support this grassroots effort to strengthen police-community relations in neighborhoods across the country.”

NFBW is slated for October 9-12.