Attorney General Jason Miyares encourages law enforcement at campus appreciation event

For the men and women that wearthe uniform, we have such incredible appreciation for the work you do,” Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said. “I go to work in the morning and put on a tie. You go to work in the morning and put on a bulletproof vest. It’s unlike any job in America today.”

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares expressed his gratitude and appreciation for law enforcement officers at Liberty University’s Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon Oct. 25. 

This was the second annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon. The Liberty School of Law and the Helms School of Government planned and hosted the event. 

The event represented 22 law enforcement agencies, including agencies from Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Farmville and Roanoke. The Liberty University Chief of Police Richard Hinkley also attended.

During the event, Miyares recognized the work that law enforcement does to protect its citizens.

Miyares also reminded attendees that the “bad” cops don’t define the profession of law enforcement.

“You’re at the frontlines of what you do, protecting those who mourn (and) protecting the poor in spirit. … You do it with integrity,” Miyares said. “My experience with working with police is that the people who most hate the bad cops are the good cops. You despise it. It’s an affront to your very being.”

Along with Miyares, speakers at the event included Robert Hurt, the dean of the Helms School of Government, Morse Tan, the dean of Liberty’s School of Law and Scott Hicks, the Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Liberty. Jonathan Falwell, Liberty’s campus pastor, led attendees in prayer at the beginning of the event.

Hicks reminded attendees that their service doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Every single day, you or someone you know gets up every day and puts on a uniform, and they go to work with a family at home and they put their life on the line,” Hicks said. “We want you to know that we’re praying for you. We love you here
at Liberty.”

Falwell recognized the importance of having a leader who supports and believes in law enforcement.

“It’s great for the commonwealth to have an attorney general who supports and believes in the law enforcement of our state,” Falwell said. 

Hurt expressed his gratitude for the law enforcement officers in attendance, reminding them that they are peacemakers. 

“Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’ and that’s what you do every day when you put on your uniform,” Hurt said.

Near the end of the event, students from Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy presented the law enforcement officers in attendance with a handmade card.

“You have to have somebody that’s willing to do the hard work and sometimes the dirty work of keeping the peace,” Hurt said. “I hope that the (law enforcement officers) came away from the lunch knowing how much we appreciate them and how there are people (at Liberty) that pray for them every day.”

Smith is the news editor for the Liberty Champion