gifts

[srz]

The mom of the teen with autism involved in the incident I wrote about last week called me she wanted the Troopers name so she could send him a check and a thank you note. I told her she couldn't send $'s to officers. They wouldn't be allowed to accept that. I did tell her "feed cops, always feed cops" ; ) Our organization has purchased cases of soda, coffee, trays of cookies and muffins for Police Appreciation Week. I also told her a letter to the officer and one to his commander for his file would be greatly appreciated.

I am assuming I am right regarding the gift rule. Any thoughts?

srz

[hitnrun]

Depending on the departments policy, always err on the side of caution. A letter and a gift that cannot be construed as monetary in nature should be sufficient. Either way, he will be grateful!

[Joeyd6]

It would work here. long story short...I recovered a dog that belonged to a close friend of the mayor. It was stolen the night before and recovered by midnight guys (didn't know they recovered it...they locked up a bum walking with it and had to send the dog to the shelter since the bum was going in for a while). It was my job as a rook to take it to the shelter. As a dog lover, I opened the kennel before we left the station to let it go to the bathroom and stretch. It was way to firnedly to be a stray in my book. So I did what my Sgt told me....took him to the shelter, but I left the kennel behind and he rode shotgun. I made a slight, unauthorized pit-stop at a local vet who just so happened to scan it...and found a chip and the owner was located and I diverted to the house, rather than the poound. All were happy, including thier son who tied him to a tree while he bought milk for mom at the corner market when he was taken the night before. Mom wrote a letter to the mayor, my supervisors and the chief. And mom showed up with bagles and doghnuts for all. My CO authorized it all since its value was minimal and it was for "everyone," not just me.

[Michelles]

I've bought food and have dropped off at the station. Bucket of KFC and pastries another time.

I'm really interested in knowing more about the Police Appreciation Week. How did you get it started and how do you distribute the food and soda to the officers?

[srz]

There is a National date set it coincides with National Police Week. This year it is May 15 - 21. A friend from Michigan who is an officer posted it last year. We just dropped off the food and soda's to the front desk. We ASSUMED they shared with the rest of the officers. I happen to know the approximate size of each department in our county (67 dept) so I was able to let people know how much to take if they chose to send food. Several churches and disability groups joined together to feed these officers.

srz