Operation Blue Sky: Police procession drives through local communities | News, sports, jobs

A Washington County Sheriff’s Office vehicle leaves Bridgeport Equipment & Tool in Marietta Saturday evening for the Operation Blue Sky procession honoring local law enforcement officers. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office led the annual Operation Blue Sky procession Saturday evening to kick off Officer Memorial Week, or as Chief Deputy Mark Warden said, “Police Week.”

The procession began at Bridgeport Equipment & Tool in Marietta and continued through Marietta to the west side of the city. Then they took St. Rt. 7 to Belpre. After the procession passed through Belpre, they crossed the Belpre Bridge and went to Vienna via Parkersburg. The procession then went through Vienna to Boaz and Boaz to Williamstown, where they dispersed.

Law enforcement agencies from across Washington and Wood County came together to take part in the procession, and Warden estimated the number of participants at 50 to 100 vehicles.

The Washington and Wood County sheriff’s offices as well as the Pleasants County, Marietta, Vienna, Belpre, Lowell, Beverly, Marietta College, Parkersburg, Matamoras sheriff’s offices participated in the procession. The St. Marys and Williamstown Police Departments all had vehicles in the procession. On Saturday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol also took part in the procession with vehicles.