Close to 2,000 attend Law Expo
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More than two thousand citizens and community members of all ages gathered on Tuesday, March 20, for the 7th annual Law Enforcement/First Responder Expo at the Appling Agriculture Center. Over 60 local, state, and federal agencies were represented. An estimated 1,900 attendees included school students from Appling and nearby counties.
Six key safety and equipment demonstrations were held: a propane fire by the Baxley Fire Department, detonations by the GBI Bomb Squad, takedown scenarios from the State of Georgia SWAT and Camden County K9 units, and a laser drill by Plant Hatch Nuclear Security. A multi-agency crash scenario took place early in the day with enactments by EMA, Air Evac Lifeteam, and the Appling County Coroner’s Office. Attendees were provided meals and encouraged to interact with local law enforcement while engaging in activities such as rock climbing and virtual firearm training simulations.
While other well-known prevention and intervention programs (like D.A.R.E.) have historically drawn critique for their often semi-accurate narratives
and preachy methodology, the 2024 expo sought to engage the public with realistic portrayals of crisis and takedown scenarios by subject area experts. Students appeared both receptive and excited, traveling freely from booth to booth to collect swag and brochures from each vendor
as drones and helicopters buzzed overhead.
Appling County Sheriff Mark Melton says the event began not as a recruitment tactic but to “bridge the gap between students and law enforcement” through regional outreach. He hopes the expo will encourage job exploration by providing more opportunities for local students as a means of early intervention against substance addiction. Melton hopes for and expects expansion in the coming years to include more federal agencies.
Among the federal agencies represented were the DEA, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Careers were advertised in numerous sectors, including corrections, public safety, social work, and motor carrier compliance. Military recruiters from the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Army and Air National Guard were also present with various tactical, vehicular, and technological displays.
Between demonstrations, Sheriff Melton hosted a dedication ceremony in memory of Allison McLeary Flory and presented her family with an award for her time at the Appling County Sheriff’s Department.
“It’s a small token,” says Melton, “but this event wouldn’t be where it is without
her hard work and dedication.”
Volunteers at the expo wore shirts bearing her name on the sleeve.
