Windsor Baptist hosts luncheon for police department

Published 10:29 am Friday, July 15, 2016

Members of Windsor Baptist Church honored the local police department by making them a meal. Pictured are Windsor Baptist churchgoer Betty Hardy, Windsor Chief of Police R.D. Riddle and Wanda Bishop. -- Walters Francis | Tidewater News

Members of Windsor Baptist Church honored the local police department by making them a meal. Pictured are Windsor Baptist churchgoer Betty Hardy, Windsor Chief of Police R.D. Riddle and Wanda Bishop. — Walters Francis | Tidewater News

WINDSOR
Members of the Windsor Baptist Church delivered a plethora of food to the Windsor Police Department on Thursday, serving the officers a fried chicken luncheon with all the trimmings.

Side dishes and desserts included corn on the cob, creamed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, Watergate salad, Texas sheet cake and brownies.

Officers from the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Department were also invited to attend.

“The idea for this came up about a week ago,” said Pastor John Corson, and added that layperson Wanda Bishop first floated the idea of having the luncheon.

“We just wanted to show how much we appreciate our police officers,” Bishop said as she and her fellow churchgoers unloaded the food.

“In light of what’s going on around the country, we felt that our officers were misunderstood,” Corson said. “When you put on that uniform, you step into harm’s way.

“My compassion for law enforcement comes from my family,” he continued. “My son is a police officer in Orlando; and my brother-in-law was an officer in Portsmouth for 27 years. I served as a chaplain for the Chesapeake police department. They may wear one uniform, but they wear many hats. We wanted to show our appreciation for all that they do.”

Chief of Police R.D. Riddle voiced his thanks for the church’s efforts.

“We are humbled by the support of the community,” he said. “This reminds of us that they support and appreciate our efforts and it encourages us to go out there and make sure that we give them the best care and service that we can.”