Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office hosts inaugural Blessing of the Badges

Jason Futch reporter2@riverbendnews.org For the first time in Hamilton County, law enforcement and emergency services personnel came together for the county’s first annual Blessing of the Badges. The event was held on Thursday, Jan. 8, at First Baptist Church of Jasper. The event was the brainchild of Pastor Brandon Bowden, who serves as a chaplain with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). When he first approached Sheriff Brian Creech about hosting an event to honor law enforcement and emergency personnel, the idea was immediately embraced. “This was the first Blessing of the Badges service, but it will definitely not be the last,” Bowden said. “It marks a new day i