A procession of hundreds of vehicles made its way down Main Street in Centre in a Back the Blue Parade on Friday evening to show support for local law enforcement. Events similar to these have been held in cities all across the United States.

In troubling times for law enforcement which has led to calls for defunding police departments and attacks on officers in other cities and states, Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship said that it is assuring to know Cherokee County has some great officers and a backing from the local community –

Friday’s event was organized by Paige Blankenship, who is the wife of Chief Blankenship. She along with Centre resident Alyssa Sipsy, whose husband is a former City of Centre officer and a current Alabama State Trooper, came up with the idea after engaging interest through a Facebook post –

The parade featured vehicles, motorcycles and ATV’s bedecked with Back the Blue flags, banners and signs, and passed by the Centre Police Department Headquarters and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Officers from Cedar Bluff and Leesburg joined officers at the Centre Police Department as the procession made its way by.