Show respect for law enforcement

To the editor:

The Jay County Optimist clubs are honoring all police officers who work in Jay County. It is our hope and wish that the residents of Jay County will also show respect for our law officers always, but make a special effort during Respect for Law Week May 2 through 8.

Through the Jay County Optimist Respect for Law Week, Jay County Optimist members will honor and show respect for all city, county and state law officers in Jay County and offer well wishes from the Jay County Optimist clubs.

We believe it is important as citizens to abide by the law, respect law enforcement and do what we can do to maintain peace. We hope that our project lets officers know that we appreciate them and what they do and will help in this effort.

Optimism in Jay County was started in 1975 when the Breakfast Optimist Club was established, with the Portland Evening Optimist Club following in 1988 and the West Jay Optimist Club established later. Over $2 million of Optimist projects have come to fruition since the establishment of the first Optimist Club in Jay County.

Optimist International is one of the largest service club organizations, with clubs in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and throughout the world, including in Jay County. Respect for Law is one of the organization’s most popular programs, with more than 1,500 clubs participating annually.

Carrying the motto, “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than 7 million young people each year.

To learn more about the Optimist clubs in Jay County, please contact Jeff Bowen, president of Portland Breakfast Optimists, at (260) 251-5024, Debra Imel, president of Portland Evening Optimists, at (260) 726-5736, or Sandy Rogers, president of the West Jay Optimist Club, at (765) 209-0226.

Leland LeMaster

Optimist chair

Respect for Law Week