BLUE LIGHTS ON THE BOULEVARD Story and Pictures by Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson The community was invited to join Minister W. Michael Jackson and the Boulevard Church of Christ (BCC) congregation for “Blue Lights on the Boulevard” from 10 am - 1 pm on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Held on the BCC campus located at 4439 Elvis Presley Boulevard, the event featuring fun and games for the children was also the church’s third community forum designed to engage Memphians and the Memphis Police Department in a dialogue to better understand how the two can work together to make positive changes that will effectively keep Whitehaven citizens and the entire community safer. The program kicked off with officers from the Memphis Police Department speaking in the Family Life Center. Raines Station Precinct Commander Colonel Mickey Williams spiced the conversation up after delivering a message about crime by opening the floor to questions. Member Jim Kincaid was one of several attendees who responded. Other speakers included officers from the Air Support Division, Bomb, Canine, and TACT Units. While adults and children were inside the Family Center enjoying the program, vendors including Marley’s Ice, a self-serve flavored -ice vendor, bounces, and Anthony, the 5-year old Bloodhound, tried to stay cool in the shade outside. Ofc. G.Howard (left), a TACT Unit member trained to respond to various emergency situations had “The Bear,” a powerful armored bus that is used in barricade, hostage, terrorism, and other high-risk operations in the parking lot ready to move at the spur of the moment. “I was glad to hear people say they had never seen the bear on the streets of Memphis,” said Howard. “That means they’ve never been at an emergency or dangerous situation that required the TACT squad to be present.” 8
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