On Friday, fifty officers from the Oklahoma City Police Department stepped away from patrol duties to work side‑by‑side with Habitat for Humanity volunteers on a home‑building project. The effort was part of the nationwide “Faith and Blue Weekend,” a program that encourages law‑enforcement agencies to engage in faith‑based and community‑service activities.
Building bridges through service
Capt. Jennifer Hurd, spokesperson for the department, emphasized that the initiative is meant to show residents that police are “servants” as well as protectors. “It’s very important that our community sees us as servants, not just the law‑enforcement arm of the community,” she said.
Hurd explained that the weekend is a national effort, giving officers across the country a chance to partner with local charities and faith groups. “This is a national initiative where law enforcement around the country take an opportunity to get engaged with their community and participate in faith‑based activities and community‑based initiatives,” she added.
Habitat partnership deepens
The Oklahoma City Police Department has collaborated with Habitat for Humanity for seven consecutive years. Bruce Kennedy, assistant construction manager for Habitat, praised the partnership, noting that the volunteers’ time is invaluable. “It’s everything. It’s who we are. It’s our values of using volunteers to build affordable housing. And they are volunteering their time, and we can’t get that back. And that means everything,” Kennedy said.
He also described the progress made on the project, noting that the crew took the structure “from the slab all the way to the top” during the day’s work.
Police officers as helpers
Capt. Vanessa Hurd reinforced the department’s broader mission to help the community in many ways. “We want people to understand that we signed up to be helpers, and we do that in many different ways, including partnering with those members of our community who are making an effort to change lives in a positive way,” she said.
The collaboration highlights the department’s dedication to strengthening ties with residents, supporting affordable‑housing initiatives, and demonstrating that public safety and community service go hand in hand. By participating in Faith and Blue Weekend, Oklahoma City police officers not only contributed labor but also modeled the values of service, faith, and partnership that underpin both the department and Habitat for Humanity.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
