Police department says thank you

To the editor:
The Portland Police Department would like to say thank you to everyone that came to the Take Back Our Community event on Oct. 1.
A few hundred people attended for a time of fellowship and learning. We made new friends and rekindled old friendships.
After the event a couple hundred gathered inside The Rock Church to hear Bobby Hayden and Lexi Laconi. The event continued into Sunday, as Bobby and Lexi spoke at Fellowship Baptist Church and Union Chapel Church.
I would like to thank everyone that helped to make the Take Back Our Community event a success.
The following groups, associations, individuals and businesses pulled together in less than a month to make this event happen: Bobby Hayden, Lexi Laconi, Cardboard Box Ministries, Jay County Hospital, Jay County Sheriff Department, Crown Point, Dunkirk Police Department, Jay County Ministerial Association, Portland Police Chaplains, Portland Police Citizens Academy Alumni, Portland Police Department Reserves, The Rock Church, Dan Daniels, Holiday Inn of Portland, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Marsh supermarkets, Emily Craiger, Red Gold, Tony Lennartz tent and bounce house, WPGW radio, WBCL radio, Muncie Star Press, Commercial Review, Fellowship Baptist Church, Union Chapel Church, Meridian Services, Elks Lodge, A Better Life Briannas Hope, Second Chance Ministries, Celebrate Recovery, Jay Randolph Stand Against Heroin, Hickory Grove Church, Evangelical Methodist Church, Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition, Portland Fire Department, Cross Road Recovery Center for Women and all the police officers, firefighters, friends and family that helped with the event.
It was nice to see so many from the community involved. We hope that the community participation continues to grow with the next step of Take Back Our Community.
The next step for taking back our community is the new neighborhood watch program.
We will be kicking off the new program with presentations for each city section. All presentations will be held at the Portland Fire Department at 7 pm. You are welcome to attend the presentation for your section or attend the presentation that fits your schedule:
•North end section (north of Votaw Street to city limits) Oct. 24.
•West end section (west of Meridian Street, between Votaw and Water streets) Nov. 7.
•East end section (east of Meridian Street, between Votaw and Water streets) Nov. 10.
•Southeast section (east of Meridian Street, between Water Street and city limits) Nov. 14.
•Southwest section (west of Meridian Street, between Water Street and city limits) Nov. 21.
If you have any questions about the Take Back Our Community event or the new neighborhood watch program please contact myself or officer Steve Schlechty at the Portland Police Department.
Thank you.
Nathaniel Springer
Portland Police Chief