Building Connections Between Faith Communities and Law Enforcement

On October 12, our own City Hall was filled with religious leaders, police officers and city officials. Every October, Faith and Blue is held across the country, where police officers and religious leaders meet to talk about their concerns, needs, and how to build strong relationships.

West Jordan City's Mayor Dirk Burton said "We have the same goals but totally different ways of going about it."

Faith and Blue is a national event to connect police and religious communities. West Jordan Police invite religious leaders every year to a prayer and breakfast meeting.

For the fourth year in a row, the West Jordan Police Department (WJPD) invited our own local leaders from all faith communities to join them for breakfast. Together, West Jordan Police, City Staff and religious leaders spoke and listened about community needs and hopes for the future.

With just over 75% of West Jordan residents participating in religious services, working with our local faith based organizations can help us build and maintain a safe community to work and live in, together.

Each representative spoke of the work they are doing in their own communities and the services they need from police officers.

The common thread from the religious leaders was gratitude to be together with officers and other leaders of faith. They asked for increased visibility of officers in the community, for emergency training and fostering positive relationships with the people they serve.

West Jordan is the proud home of many faiths. Here are some of the faith representatives that attended:

• Lifeline Community Church
• Utah Islamic Center
• Seventh-day Adventist Church
• Holy Cross Hospital chaplains
• Utah Christian Fellowship Church
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Mountain Vista United Methodist Church
• NAACP

West Jordan Police Chief Ken Wallentine asked for the faith communities for three things to help the police officers:

1. "Care for one another. Be present. How long has it been since you put it in park and listened?"

2. "Help me find good police officers. We need someone who can put the gear of life in park and be a human. We look for officers who try to strengthen souls and character. Those who return love for hate, include the excluded."

3. "Pray for us. I feel that power. I do not know how but I know without a shadow of a doubt of the efficacy of prayers."

In return, Chief Wallentine offered free emergency training to all religious centers and a guarantee that if they called, officers would respond.

Despite the diverse perspectives and goals of everyone in the room, there was cooperation and unity.

We have a saying in our police department that all of our officers embody, "you matter, like I matter." Our hope is that through … community engagement events, we can foster a meaningful relationship in which our West Jordan community knows they matter.

"I don't see the world as it is, I see the world as I am," said Chief Wallentine. "I succeed when I see the world from someone else's perspective."

Grant Money for Emergencies

Many houses of worship experience threats, vandalism and violence. Police and Fire are here to help you prepare for and prevent problems. There are also federal government grants that can help religious centers update their buildings and prepare the people for emergencies.

First, reach out to our local first responders. West Jordan Police and Fire Departments can help train your staff and congregants how to respond during emergencies.

For more information about federal grant money, visit Protecting Houses of Worship Resources | CISA.

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