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On December 13, family and friends gathered around a Christmas tree of remembrance for Justin Bedwell. Katherine Bedwell lovingly decorated the tree with items that symbolized Justin’s favorite things and cherished memories. She shared, “I decorated the tree with items that remind me of him.” The tree was adorned with blue and black bows to honor fallen officers, a decorative nine to highlight his badge number, SO9, and Tennessee bows representing his favorite team. A gold butterfly was included because Justin loved watching them, and a Christmas Mickey Mouse figurine next to the tree brought back fond memories of his time with his daughter at Disney World. Captain Bedwell is deeply missed.

Gaston Robert-Wayne Corson, along with his Vice President Chris Moore, founded Pledge 2 Police (P2P) in Bainbridge. P2P is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the families of law officers killed in the line of duty and assisting injured officers. Although Corson is currently the primary financial supporter of P2P, his vision for the organization is expansive and inspiring.

Corson has both short-term and long-term goals for P2P. In the short term, he aims to raise awareness and increase funding for the organization. His long-term vision includes providing scholarships to the families of fallen officers and offering assistance to police officers suffering from PTSD. He hopes to expand P2P’s reach to surrounding areas in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. Corson stated, “If this takes off the way we want it to, this can be a national thing where we help officers in every state.”

JBCF Business Solution serves as the sponsorship coordinator for P2P, and the community has already begun to show their support. Wawa donated $1000 through a fundraiser campaign called Hoagies for Heroes, and Air Care, LLC contributed funds and found someone to assist with advertising and website development. Corson exclaimed, “It’s great that the community cares about law enforcement. It’s great.”

Through P2P, Corson and his team are making a significant impact, ensuring that the sacrifices of our law enforcement officers are honored and supported. Their dedication is a testament to the strength and unity of our community.