Orange County Sheriff's Office Reaching Community in New Ways

Deputies and staff arrived at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning for a different type of work than normal.

The office packaged hot dog lunches for delivery to shut-in seniors as a Seniors And Law Enforcement Together, or SALT, event. On the last Monday of every month, they prepare around 100 hot meals to be distributed throughout the county.

Major David Caldwell, who overlooks Orange County’s SALT program, said this is just one of many ways the sheriff’s office aids elderly community members.

“We’ve put in bath tubs, we’ve supplied fans, we’ve done minor repairs to homes, wheelchair ramps,” Caldwell described, “things of that nature.”

SALT is part of the office’s community outreach division, which is made up of volunteering officers simply working to make Orange County residents’ lives better.

Caldwell said he got involved because he wants the perception of his office to be different from others across the country.

“We have to change the image of law enforcement,” he said. “We have to get out of our box, out of our comfort zones. It’s time to change that outlook of running from the cops to getting our kids and people running to us [for help].”

Sheriff Charles Blackwood agreed with Caldwell, saying that idea is one reason he wanted to grow the community outreach division when he became sheriff.

“I hope the reputation of the agency goes up a few notches,” said Blackwood, “because we’re not just out there kicking doors in and putting people in jail. Certainly that’s part of our job, but as deputies and as sheriff, we have a great responsibility to make certain we can fill the needs of people in this county.”

Monday’s SALT event is one of over 100 the sheriff’s community outreach division has either hosted or attended in 2018. Between community watch events, presentations with churches, outreach events at schools and more, volunteering officers always have ways to give back to Orange County residents.

Sgt. Brian Whitehurst helped with the assembly of the lunch boxes, putting hot dogs in with toppings and sides. He said he volunteers through the division to play a bigger role than just enforcing the law.

“Really what it comes down to is being there for the community in all different aspects and this is one of those,” he said. “This is one of the most rewarding things because there are going to be folks who probably wouldn’t get a meal if we didn’t make these hot dogs today. It’s very rewarding for me and us as an agency to be there for our community in so many different ways.”

Hearing this, Blackwood said that is exactly his vision for officers in Orange County when they volunteer for these events.

“It gives a deputy a sense of ownership within a community,” said Blackwood. “When they know there are people out there that count on them for their meal, medical needs or just as someone to talk to, they learn about humility and stewardship.”

By the time volunteers finished packing meals and taking them to the distribution site, they’d worked for around 30 minutes. Their impact on the community that day, however, would last much longer.

Photo via Blake Hodge

Community Outreach Helps Orange County Sheriff’s Office Give Back

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