The Chatham County Sheriff's Office hosted a shooting contest to engage with the community and raise money to support Georgia youth homes.
The "Shooting with the Sheriff" event consisted of five different stages, and Chatham County officials said over 100 people participated. The competition was split into several divisions, and the winner chose from an extensive prize table of items donated by sponsors throughout the county.
Sheriff John Wilcher said the contest was one of many fundraising activities his office organizes to support their favorite cause, helping abused or abandoned children.
"It's a great program that my command staff and everyone has come up with to raise money for the Georgia Sheriff Youth Homes," Wilcher said. "We have five youth homes throughout the state of Georgia. We cater to the one in Hahira normally and what we do is buy their Christmas for them."
Wilcher said the funds raised would pay for things like new clothes for the children, and he said they expect to raise over $10,000.
He added that he hopes to reassure residents that the money collected goes straight into boosting the community.
"All the money that's made today here goes right to the sheriff's office, and we spend that money right back here in Chatham County," Wilcher said.
Chief Deputy Gary Taylor said the benefits of the event go beyond the money raised, and the sense of sportsmanship present throughout the competition helps build relationships between law enforcement and the community.
He said the experience also acts as a learning opportunity because both officers and everyday people have the chance to brush up on their self-defense skills.
"These competitions also create a learning environment that helps our law enforcement officers become more tactically safe, tactical minded, tactical movement all that it plays a part in it," Taylor said. "It also helps with citizens defending themselves and their right to carry and all that. This helps them polish their skills."
The Chatham County Sheriff's Office said that because of the overwhelming success of the first Shooting with the Sheriff, they hope to make it an annual event.