Retired Camden County officer Neil Clark got his whole neighborhood to turn blue on Oct. 8 in a show of support for local police.
Residents of the Shadowbrook Development in Sewell lit up their houses in recognition of the Washington Township police department. According to Clark, more than half of the neighborhood took part in the initiative.
“I was very appreciative that all the neighbors showed support,” he said. “The turnout from the police was good, too. It was good to see smiling faces on both ends.
“I’m a retired officer,” Clark added. “Immediately, I thought this was something we had to put together in our neighborhood to support the officers, especially with the way that times are now.”
Clark spent 16 years as an officer before being injured on the job; he retired in 2015. He saw a post on social media about a neighborhood in another state that had started the lighting initiative to thank local police. Clark thought it was a great idea.
“We have a Facebook page for our neighborhood, and I immediately put something out and asked who would be on board,” Clark noted. “The responses were incredible.”
The neighborhood spent three weeks getting lights and flags to decorate the outside of its houses. Residents put blue lights on their bushes and turned their garage lights and fog lights blue. Other residents flew the thin blue line flag.
“The amount of support from the neighborhood was incredible,” Clark said. “You always think you are going to get that one negative feedback and that one negative reply, and I had zero. Every reply and comment was on a positive note.
“I had a lot more support than what I thought I was going to.”
Supporters included members of the development’s homeowners association. Its president, Christopher Greco, participated with his 11-year-old son, Jaxon.
“My son said it brought tears to his eyes,” Greco recalled. “It was really a fantastic tribute, and as a development who takes pride in supporting our neighbors and township, we could not be anymore appreciative of our Washington Township Police Department and all they do for us each and every day.”
Clark invited officers to drive through the neighborhood as residents stood at the end of their driveways to offer thanks. In turn, officers thanked neighbors and threw toy footballs to children from their car windows.
“It was just something to show that in these hard times, and the way that, unfortunately, the public views the officers, there are still people out there who support the police.” Clark explained.
“We wanted to show them that we care. We want them to stand strong.”
