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Allendale PD marks St. Michael's Feast Day with Blessing of the Badge service

By: 
Kimberly Redmond / Town Journal

[Town Journal] For cops the Feast of St. Michael, the patron saint of law enforcement, is always an important date, but this past week the day was made even more special for Allendale police officers after a local priest held the first-ever Blessing of the Badge ceremony at the department.

After seeing the increased scrutiny of police nationally over the last year, The Rev. Michael Allen of the Trinity Episcopal Church suggested it as a way to recognize officers "for the good they do in caring for the community, to thank them, and to let them know that the community is caring for them also," Police Chief George Scherb said.

Although a Blessing of the Badge is usually apart of larger Blue Mass - a large-scale service to honor law enforcement - Scherb said holding one just for his force made it "unique in that it was more personal, which made it a more powerful event."