From the multiple memorials, to candle light vigils and online fundraisers there's been an outpouring of support and love by the community for the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and families of deputies Patrick Dailey and Mark Logsdon.
Another way residents are paying tribute is by shining a blue light outside of their homes.
“We are buying lights to show our support for the fallen officers. Our neighborhood was kind enough to want to do a sea of blue and we are showing our support,” Julie French, the wife of a Harford County sheriff's deputy, said.
She and her husband went to Courtland Hearth & Hardware in Bel Air on Friday to buy whatever blue light bulbs were left in store.
“We had 200 bulbs come in this morning and we've sold out within two hours,” said Julie Raynor, the office manager at Courtland Hearth & Hardware.
Courtland's is currently all sold out of blue light bulbs but they said they'll have a new shipment in by Monday. One-hundred percent of the proceeds are being donated to the Harford County Deputy Sheriff’s Benevolent Fund to benefit the families of the two fallen deputies.
A blue light symbolizes support for police and the memory of the officers who gave their lives. Deputies Dailey and Logsdon were both killed in the line of duty after confronting a suspect at a Panera Bread in Abingdon Wednesday.
“I think it's riveted us, the whole community's in shock and it really hits home,” Domenic Macri said. “We expect it more in the urban areas, but unfortunately it's kind of come out here and it's something we never expected.”
Macri is the organizer of a Blue Lives Matter rally in remembrance of deputies Dailey and Logsdon. He said it started out as only 30 to 40 people but has since taken off.
“It's overwhelming. I currently have over 300 messages I still haven't responded to, I'm going through them and I'm getting more by the second and that's just amazing to see that many people turning out to support the community and the officers that unfortunately gave their lives.” Macri said.
But residents aren’t surprised by the outpouring of support. They describe Harford County as a tight-knit community with close ties to law enforcement.
“My wife's been a deputy sheriff at the sheriff's department for 44 years,” said Richard Thomas, the co-owner, of Courtland Hearth & Hardware.
“If you live in Harford County it's inevitable that you grow up knowing someone from the sheriff's department. Domenic's best man works for the sheriff's department, my next door neighbor was a former sheriff,” said Bill Recher, Macri’s father-in-law and a Blue Lives Matter rally supporter.
Macri said residents have offered whatever they can and businesses are providing free services. Kevin Miksis and Lewis Bolt, co-founders of Mason Dixon Pro-tainment offered do the event planning for the rally that is scheduled to be held at Ripken Stadium on Sunday, February 21, starting at 12 p.m. They said they both wanted to be a part of the rally to show their respect and gratitude for all law enforcement.
“Everybody and all of the officers of the state of Maryland and all of the officers around the country because they do so much for us every day and we really want to give back to them,” Miksis said.
“They’re out there doing what we don’t want to do, they’re protecting everybody, and they put their lives on the line so we can be safe,” Bolt said.
Next Sunday’s event is designed to honor all of the men and women who serve and protect and to remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
“Come with your heart and just show your support for the officers,” Recher said.
For more information on the Blue Lives Matter Rally/Harford County Sheriff's Memorial, click here.
If you’d like to contribute to the Harford County Deputy Sheriff’s Union Benevolent Fund, click here.
