The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 9, 2008

Ministers will be easier to spot with new street uniforms

By Courtney Anderson

SHENANGO VALLEY — Area pastors hoping teaming up with law enforcement to take their message of peace to the streets will be sporting their own uniforms.

Members of the Shenango Valley Ministerial Association Wednesday have shirts and caps to wear while out and about in the valley. The white polo shirts have a “SVMA” on the breast and say “clergy” on the back

Citizens in Sharon and Farrell in recent months have complained about shootings, fights and other crime running rampant.

In an effort to curb crime and keep young people on a positive path, members of the clergy are partnering with local police and the Mercer County district attorney.

“We just want to try to be a presence in the streets and on other occasions they might need us for any specific problem,” the Rev. Thomas J. Bolling of Second Baptist Church in Farrell, who is coordinating the effort, said.

“We’re not watchdogs. We know we’re not police. We’re just going to try to bring some sense to the whole thing and to try to get to know people and them get to know us and what we’re about,” he said.

The matching shirts identifying the ministers will let people know they are safe people to come talk to, Bolling said.

They’ll be walking the streets and be a presence at ball games and other community gatherings, he said.

“We just want to do what we can to help make a better place for our children to live and our elders be at peace,” Bolling said.

Sharon police Chief Mike Menster said the ministerium approached authorities and offered their help to address and resolve issues.

The ministers want to send a clear message and present a unified front with police and to communicate with young people, said the Rev. Joseph Davis, ministerium president.

Points that Davis said they want to make to kids are that they care, violence should stop and kids should stay off drugs and in school.

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