GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Realizing being in law enforcement often is a thankless job, Tina Clary wanted to show her support in a quiet, yet significant, way on May 6.

She joined Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless, Friends of the NRA’s Chairman Dustin Elrod, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook, Green Cove Springs Police Chief John Guzman and Orange Park Police Department Chief Gary Goble and Assistant Chief Randy Case to help all three agencies with a check presentation.

The gifts were part of the Friends of the NRA’s ninth annual Back the Blue program where deputies and officers also were recognized earlier in the week.

“I’ve got to tell you, there’s absolutely no way I wouldn’t be able to stand up to the standard that is laid out, unfortunately, for you,” Chambless said. “ You know, at the end of the day, we all just want to go home to our families, right?

“And in light of what’s happening on a national scale of individuals who are wanting to defund the police and to break down those societal norms that we need, quite frankly, is this just appalling, Hopefully, those norms will become reimbursed, and I truly believe that the majority of individuals certainly do back to the blue.”

Cook, Guzman, Goble and Case then respectfully accepted their checks.

“We had the opportunity to share a vision with Tina (Clary), and as the principal with Claire and Associates, and one that has always been (an important) player in the community, she didn’t say ‘What do you need or this and that?’ She just answered the phone and said, ‘Will do.’

“She answered the call and what she wanted to do was recognize the law enforcement professionals who have boots on the ground.”

Clary didn’t want to divulge the amounts of the contributions.

“Tina came up with the idea of, of, ‘Hey, why don’t we present each member of the table with a firearm of their choice?’ And so that in and of itself was special, but then to go further with it to present each agency with a check to use however you see fit is going above and beyond.”

Jacksonville-based Clary and Associates have provided professional surveying and mapping in Northeast Florida since 1983.

The company also takes an active role in nonprofit and charitable causes in Clay County, including J.P. Hall Children’s Charities, Seamark Ranch, Clay Chamber, Council on Aging of Clay County and First Coast Women’s Services.