Local police serve holiday cheer this season

For police officers and staff at the Unified Police Department’s Millcreek Precinct, Community Oriented Policing is more than just a policy.

When Millcreek officers received reports that a local family of three would go without food this holiday season, they stepped in to help. On the morning of Thanksgiving, the officers delivered a traditional holiday meal complete with turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, bread and dessert to the family. The meal was large enough to feed the family on the holiday and have leftovers through the next week.

Millcreek Precinct Detective Angie Hunter said police officers work hard all year long to respond to the needs of people in the community by being observant and alert for ways to help. She said the holiday season gave officers a special opportunity to follow up with families in need and give them a little something extra.

“We follow up with the community and pay attention to see what they need,” Hunter said.

Millcreek police officers and detectives work hard to develop positive relationships with people in the community through such programs as Community Oriented Policing and Officer Friendly in local elementary schools, and by hosting annual events such as the Night Out Against Crime.

After responding to calls for help, Millcreek police regularly try to return to the scene to follow up with families and children who continue to experience difficulty due to an illness, disability or financial hardship.

This Thanksgiving, police learned of the family in need from an apartment manager who has a good working relationship with the officers.

Millcreek Precinct officers are planning to provide a similar service to another family for Christmas this year.

The family, which includes four young children under the age of 10, is in need of warm winter clothing, such as coats, shoes and gloves.

Police officers are planning to deliver a Christmas meal to the family, along with holiday gifts for the children and some essentials to help the family all year long.

During the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, officers will be collecting donations and distributing food, gifts and new clothing for the family and other people in the community that need the help.

Hunter said all of the police officers, detectives and staff at the precinct contribute to the annual holiday Sub-for-Santa type giving, but that anyone who would like to pitch in could help make a huge difference.

“We do what we can, but a lot comes from donations,” she said.

You may donate items for children at the Millcreek Precinct, located at 3900 South 1580 East, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the week. For help after hours, press the call button at the precinct station.