COLUMBUS, Ind. – Following a hectic weekend where flood waters threatened lives and closed roads, Columbus Police Department Chief of Police Steve Norman released a letter on Tuesday thanking citizens, Mayor Mary Ferdon, law enforcement officers, and public safety personnel.
Below is Chief Norman’s statement:
“As the flood waters are receding and we all try to catch our breath, I wanted to take a moment to express my thanks and appreciation for our community. Many cities have experienced emergencies and tragedies, but in my over 30 years as a police officer for Columbus I am always impressed with how we all come together in times of need. This flood was no different.
The Columbus Police Department, like all of the public safety agencies in our area, was working around the clock to help in any way we could with all the hardship caused by the flood on top of all the severe weather we received before that. I am thankful for the caring officers I have the opportunity to work with, and the caring citizens who support us and their neighbors. Officers have been well fed and taken care of throughout these last few days, and I can’t tell you the number of stories I’ve heard of kindness to help others in their time of need.
I’d also like to highlight how exceptionally all of our different city, county, and state agencies worked together over the past few days. It was an uphill battle keeping up with the rising water, closing roads and parks, and displacing families. Under Mayor Ferdon’s leadership we have worked to further strengthen our team of city and county agencies to be well prepared for a crisis like this.
Moving forward, I will be sitting down with our community leaders to discuss our successes and challenges so that we can continue to improve and be even better prepared. I know most of us were affected in some way by the high water, even if it was just having to use a different way to get home. But I am grateful we’ve made it through, together.”
