For the second year, Michael Novakovich, TCCC’s Director of Strategy & Business Development, chaired a law enforcement appreciation day through his church, The Garden, called Back the Blue. Teams of people from The Garden delivered breakfast during the morning shift change on September 16th to the Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland Police Departments, the Benton County and Franklin County Sheriff’s Departments and they drove up to Connell to take the on-duty officer out to lunch.

That evening, The Garden had a special Back the Blue service for all regional law enforcement officers, current and retired, with a special message from their Senior Pastor, Thom Fields. Mayor Steve Young (City of Kennewick), Mayor Matt Watkins (City of Pasco), Councilmen Philip Lemley (City of Richland) and Mayor Pro-Tem Rich Buel (City of West Richland) were on hand. All four of these city leaders took to the platform and gave Mayoral Proclamations, proclaiming September 16th, 2017 Back the Blue Day in each of their cities and urged “…. all citizens to celebrate Back the Blue Day ~ to support local and regional law enforcement and The Garden’s sentiment that, ‘Together, we’re better!’” Dinner was provided to law enforcement and their families in attendance following the special service.