Helms School of Government, School of Law recognize more than 25 area agencies during third annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon

Law enforcement officials from across Central Virginia were welcomed at Liberty University Tuesday for the school’s third annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon, held this year in the School of Law’s Mountain View Room.

The luncheon is hosted annually by the law school and the Helms School of Government, with more than 25 area law enforcement agencies in attendance, including sheriff’s offices, police departments, commonwealth’s attorneys, and the Virginia State Police. Liberty President Dondi Costin was also in attendance.

Liberty University Softball Head Coach and two-time Olympic gold medalist Dot Richardson delivered the keynote address at the luncheon, using her story as a pioneer in women’s athletics to encourage the officers who face greater challenges every day they suit up for work.

Richardson said while many officers work in the face of hate in today’s climate, their ability to impact the lives of people is something not offered in many other professions, and it’s something the officers should cherish.

“I want to encourage you to know that it’s not everyone that is giving the hate out there when you hear it,” Richardson said. “In fact, we pray that you can stay strong and stay committed to what you do, and we sometimes take for granted every day the safety that you give us.”

While telling the story of how she overcame obstacles in her life to ultimately be a part of the inaugural softball competition in the 1996 Summer Olympics, where she hit the game-sealing home run in the gold medal game, Richardson recalled the moment she stood on the podium while the national anthem played after they had taken gold, and she likened it to the feeling officers must feel every day when they go to work.

“In the biggest athletic moment of my career I felt so little, so small,” Richardson said. “I realized we were the 15 chosen to represent all who had ever dreamt of it and were never given the opportunity. We were there to open the doors for future generations to be able to dream about it and, for some of them, to live it.”

“This Olympic gold medal to me represents an opportunity that every day you guys have and don’t ever take for granted,” she continued, holding the medal in her hand. “It’s an opportunity to make a difference in the life of other people, and boy, do you guys do that so much and so often.”

Prior to Richardson delivering the keynote address, School of Law Dean Morse Tan recognized the immense duties that officers undertake every time they put on the badge.

“You are the ones who bring the law alive in being able to enforce things to what would otherwise be dead letter,” Tan said. “You bring life to that which would otherwise be paralyzed … and I have a hard time imagining that there’s a university that does more to honor those in public service, including our esteemed law enforcement, than Liberty University.”

During a time where the profession has been vilified by many, Tan emphasized that Liberty wants to continue to lift up law enforcement officials.

“In recent times you have had those who would seek to defund the police. You’ve had those who would seek to trash the reputation of the noble service that you all do, and to us here at Liberty, we want to do the very opposite,” he continued. “This lunch is about honoring your service, honoring the risk you’ve taken, the dedication you’ve exhibited, and all that you do for this society without which law and order would collapse to the ground.”

Following the lunch, students from Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy presented all officials in attendance with cards of gratitude written by students in the school, while two seniors at SMLCA delivered short speeches thanking the law enforcement professionals for protecting the peace in the face of danger.

Amanda Trent, chair of Liberty’s criminal justice department and an assistant professor, closed out the luncheon by talking about “giant defiant faith,” citing 1 Samuel.

“In the verses leading up to the story of David and Goliath, it talks about how for 40 days the Philistines attacked, and every morning and every evening the Israelites just got their teeth kicked in,” Trent said. “And I can’t imagine … that you don’t feel like you’ve had your teeth kicked in for the last 40 whatever you’d like to put in there. But it’s important to know that you’re capable of that giant defiant faith. I just want to encourage you guys to continue to have that.”

Under the School of Government, Liberty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in criminal justice, with focuses on Crime Scene Investigation, Homeland Security, Juvenile Justice, and more. Programs are offered residentially and online.