The Community Criminal Justice Foundation began with little more than a discussion between two concerned citizens of Floyd County about giving back to the community by way of showing support to all levels of law enforcement. In 1998 Walter R. Adams and Gregory E. Sumner, Ph.D. decided to organize a BBQ at Walt's farm located off Blacks Bluff Road in Rome, Georgia. The BBQ was one of the most elaborate you have ever seen. Putting on events of this magnitude was nothing new to Walt and his wife, Laura. They had been opening their doors to the community by hosting various events on their farm for years.
The BBQ was primarily funded by Walt and Laura. Because of Greg's past experience in the law enforcement community of Northwest Georgia it was his task to go out and solicit as many people as possible serving in a law enforcement capacity to attend the BBQ. Letters and faxes were sent across the State of Georgia and Alabama. Telephone calls were made. The first year of the BBQ it is estimated there were approximately 150 people in attendance. Over the years the attendance has grown to over 600.
The original concept was simple-to provide a safe location for law enforcement officers and their families to come together and eat and fellowship. It was Walt and Greg's intent that if officers from all levels of law enforcement could come together and eat and talk it may result in better established relationships between officers and agencies for the communities they serve. It was also a way to say "thank you" for your service to our community, state, and nation.
Over the years, another integral part of the BBQ has been to provide entertainment and a guest speaker. In the past we have been fortunate to have Elvis (GSP Trooper) come sing for those in attendance and various politicians and heads of state law enforcement agencies. It should be noted while politicians are often invited to the annual BBQ, they are not allowed to politic. This is one of the only rules that were established. The event is for the law enforcement officers, not a forum for politicians to push their agenda.
In 2001, Walt and Greg decided to take it a step further and do more for law enforcement and the community. They decided to establish a scholarship for a graduating high school senior or current law enforcement officer. To help support the scholarship, they went to the Rome Rotary Club and asked for a matching donation of $1500.00 to establish the scholarship at Georgia Highlands College. The Rome Rotary Club graciously donated the initial $1500.00 and Walt and Greg matched it with $1500.00. The scholarship was named the Walter R. Adams Community Criminal Justice Scholarship because of Greg's extensive research in the area of community policing. Since 2001, the Walter R. Adams Community Criminal Justice Scholarship has afforded many scholarship recipients the opportunity to attend Georgia Highlands College and obtain an associates of arts degree in criminal justice. To this day, the Rome Rotary Club continues to support the scholarship they so graciously agreed to finance several years ago.
In 2003, Walt and Greg decided that the annual BBQ had grown to the extent that it needed a governing board of leaders in the community. Fortunate enough as is the case in Rome and Floyd County, approximately 10 people agreed to serve on the first board of directors, many of which continue to serve on the board today. The board was charged with reaching out to the community in a tacit manner to solicit funds for an annual BBQ and college scholarship. The board has been successful as they have raised a significant amount of funds to allow the organization to grow and prosper as a non-profit organization.
The original intent has not changed from its inception-to say "thank you" to those who protect and serve on a daily basis in a law enforcement capacity. For that, we the board of directors of the Community Criminal Justice Foundation, Inc. are grateful.
May God bless!
