Back The Blue Rally Planned In Sayville To 'Support Local Heroes'

SAYVILLE, NY —On Saturday a retired NYC MTA detective and a local EMS volunteer are hosting an annual "back the blue" event to show support for local police officers. The August 1 event kicks off at noon. This is the fifth year in a row Sayville's Back the Blue rally will be held, but this is the first year the two residents—Jamie Atkinson and Patty Manfredonia— have taken over organizing it from the Sayville Community Ambulance Company.

The two Sayville residents started to plan the rally three weeks ago. They both volunteer with the ambulance company.

"We felt it was important to continue with a means to say thank you and show our support for our local heroes in blue."

And although the police support event comes in the wake of weeks of Black Lives Matters (BLM) marches, Atkinson told Patch the event is not a counter-protest or a response to those protests.

"The prior BLM protests were not even a thought or discussed in the planning process or creation. We just ask that everyone attending is respectful and civil. Although it is important to point out that this is not a political gathering or political party rally, BLM did have two marches in Sayville and several in other areas in Suffolk County where there were no anti-protests set up," Atkinson points out.

The Back the Blue event starts and ends at the memorial monument and turf field dedicated to Suffolk Police Sgt. Timothy J. Henck. Henck died from injuries received in the line of duty in 1995. His widow Kathy Henck will attend the event.

Other widows of police officers who died in the line of duty who will be at the rally include Leanne Simonsen whose husband NYPD Det. Brian Simonsen died in 2019 in Queens. She will be speaking, along with Phil Alvarez, the brother of late hero NYPD Detective Luis Alvarez who died of cancer after being a 911 first responder.

"It is extremely important that we remember those officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our communities' safety," Atkinson says.

Although there will be speakers, Atkinon says there will not be political rhetoric.

"We want to keep the focus on supporting, funding and understanding that our police are doing a difficult job with many limitations placed on them while dealing with a growing anti-police sentiment and lack of trust in our police."

The march asks its attendees to adhere to social distancing protocol and to follow the Suffolk County Police instructions to remain on sidewalks throughout.

"It is very important we keep these hero officers' memories alive and we recognize that the majority of officers are good and do the right thing by the public. We want to know that when you dial 911 in Suffolk County that officers will respond regardless of your race, religion, sexuality or creed and that our police officers are our neighbors, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and protectors. They have families waiting for them to come home after they work long shifts dealing with stressful, dangerous situations and conditions."