Santa has come and gone, but it’s not just the Jolly Old Elf in red who so generously gifted locals this holiday season. A handful of Bridgeport’s boys in blue made some very well-received special deliveries, too.

 

Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker said it was a last-minute mission, but one which went off without a hitch.

 

It all happened Friday - just three days before Christmas - and was initiated by Freedom Kia, now located at the junction of Route 131 and I-79. A representative of the dealership called Bridgeport Police Department Friday morning and said Freedom had $1,000 to put into the hands of locals who could use it.

 

Having seen YouTube videos of law enforcement officers pulling motorists over to give them cash or gift cards, members of Bridgeport PD thought they would follow suit.

 

“We basically went around Friday afternoon and made 10 traffic stops throughout town – just random stops; people who were, of course, obeying the traffic laws,” said Bridgeport Police Lt. Mike Lemley.

 

Each of the 10 individuals stopped were handed $100 cash.

 

“We explained that we had partnered with Freedom Kia and were just trying to make someone’s holidays just a little bit brighter and that we basically wanted to reward people for driving well,” Lemley said. “We told them that we hoped this would help with their holiday season.”

All the motorists gladly accepted the cash and all were kind and appreciative. Although each was initially puzzled and confused as to why he or she had been pulled over, reactions were ultimately all positive and some particularly memorable.

 

“Several people got out of the car and gave us hugs and a couple people just took the money and said thank you,” Lemley said. “But there was one car; a husband and wife with a child and the wife kind of broke down into tears and said how nice it was and how much it was going to help.”

 

Both Walker and Lemley said Friday was the first time they had opportunity to make traffic stops for such a good reason.

 

“I know it wasn’t a lot, but I think it helped some,” Walker said. “We heard some personal stories that were very touching. It brought a lot of happiness to the officers, as well.”

 

Also participating were Officers J.W. Petroski, G.T. Collins, F.S. Toothman, Brian Kemmerer, T.R. Rutherford and J.D. Williams.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured are Bridgeport Police Lt. Mike Lemley (top) and Chief John Walker.