An estimate 300 to people came to May Park, Saturday afternoon, for “games, music and food,” the key components of Sheriff Eugene Brantley’s “Summer Q” community cookout
The free event offered hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork and pulled chicken, soft drinks, a live DJ and bounce houses for the kids. Complementing the “Coffee with the Cops” event at Starbucks earlier this month, Saturday’s event at of Sheriff Brantley’s overarching project to bolster connections between the community and local law enforcement.
“I’ve always gone to different events throughout the community, just being an officer, just being with the people,” said Brantley. “At the end of the day, it’s about relationships. That’s how we solve crimes. People trust you when something happens.”
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Those resulting connections, many of which were developed during Brantley’s campaign for sheriff, also helped the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) Community Services Division coordinate the cookout event, and even helped save the RCSO money in the process.
Riverside Refreshments donated drinks, Lanier Meat Market gave much of the food, and even the Elite Shaken Lemonade pop-up stand camped out without cost to the department.
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“A lot of it is just community effort,” said the sheriff. “Community partnerships and just building on those.”
Brantley also said that the public can expect at least one more such event before the summer ends, likely in August, with an eye toward Warren Road Park.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
