Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that struck nearly one year ago, the Oneida Sheriff’s Office Community Affairs unit, along with its School Resource Officers and School Police Officers, had a presence in nearly every school district in the county. When school was shut down, the Community Affairs Unit established its Pledge Program. For more than ten months, on every school day, members of the Sheriff's Office recite the Pledge of Allegiance from in front of fire stations, municipal buildings, parks, and from both inside and outside of school classrooms.