Tuesday’s donation to the Selma Police Department (SPD) shows how the majority of the community is supportive of our local law enforcement.

In a community that has experienced crime that has taken loved ones from us, these officers are at the front line of all the dangerous calls that come into the Selma Police Department.

Rex Jones, who organized the Cemetery Run last year that made this donation possible, saw the need that these officers needed after Officer Micah Hale was injured in an ambush shooting, and two more officers were involved in the same month.

“We saw a need in the community. We feel like these first responders put their life on the line everyday,” said Jones. “The least we could do is try to do something to make their lives a little bit safer. We have a lot of sponsors that donated money. It was a group effort, and the town came together. We had an overwhelming response from businesses and individuals from around town who wanted to give money and help.”

“I know the overwhelming majority of this community supports this department,” said SPD Chief Spencer Collier. “This demonstrates that. Unfortunately, we saw what happened to Officer Hale, but the community responded.”

At the same time that these vests were being delivered, Hale was able to return to work.

Hale was able to return to a job that he loves, to protect the community he loves.

We, along with Jones, the SPD and everyone else that helped lead this cause, want to thank everyone who has contributed to this donation allowing those officers to defend us safely.