CLEVELAND — People gathered in downtown Cleveland for a parade that honored fallen officers Friday.
The parade moved along Lakeside Avenue and ended at the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial in Huntington Park.
“What you see on TV, normally what you see in the news, you see the division. You see the hate. You see the disconnect between community and law enforcement, but when you come here and you travel here, you see the community bringing and bridging and helping hold up law enforcement the same way law enforcement holds up the community,” said Jesse Gajdosz.
Gajdosz traveled all the way from North Carolina with his father, uncle and family friend. He has attended the event for the last six years, while his father and uncle have attended for the last 20 years.
The parade is part of the annual Police Week, which has featured a wide variety of events honoring law enforcement.
Gajdosz, who spent a few years in law enforcement, said the parade is a great way to bring police and the community together.
“I think you get to see the real. You get to see the rawness. You get to see the vulnerability, you get to see the discussions on both sides. You see the families and the victims of the guys who’ve given and women who’ve given their life in the line of duty. And then you get to see the struggles that we go through on this end, and you get to have the conversations with the community as well on how they can keep that cohesiveness going and growing,” said Gajdosz.
