Officers surprise unsuspecting drivers with holidays gifts By ALLISON SHIRK Staff Writer NORTH PORT — The North Port Police Department spent Tuesday afternoon, the day before Christmas Eve, answering the last-minute holiday wishes of a handful of lucky citizens. In a “secret” operation, labeled “Operation Santa Surprise,” a small group of NPPD officers conducted traffic stops near Walmart and Home Depot, off U.S. 41, and the officers asked drivers what gifts they wanted this holiday season. With a radio in hand, the officer conducting the traffic stop messaged officers inside Walmart, who then found the item and purchased it for the person waiting in their car outside. “This season is a time for giving,” Officer Joe Fussell said. “We want to have a positive effect on the community.” Police Chief Kevin Vespia said the idea originally came from Lowell, Mich. The Lowell Police Department stopped more than 50 people in two days and handed out presents, making national headlines earlier this month. NPPD began the traffic stops at 9 a.m. and continued until 2 p.m. NPPD Officers Fussell, Shawn Rice and Capt. Chris Morales set up along Aiden Lane, near Walmart and Home Depot, to stop cars that were violating minor traffic laws, like speeding and not slowing down for stop signs. Vespia and Officers Mike Coss and Brandon McHale stood inside Walmart, waiting to hear what item they would need to run and grab. Vespia’s wife Kimberle and Michelle Morales sat at a table at the front of the store ready to wrap the gifts. Michelle is the wife of Mike Morales, owner of Quality TV, located at 14212 S. Tamiami Trail, who provided the funds — about $1,100 — to purchase all the gifts. The first person to be pulled over was Ashley Straka, a single mother of two sons who just moved to North Port from Port Charlotte and was on her way to work at 9 a.m. She told the officers that her sons, 7 and 8, both wanted video gaming chairs for Christmas. She began crying when officers handed her the presents. “How did you know this is what I needed?” Straka said to the officers who appeared with her gifts. “We have some elves working over in Walmart,” one officer said. Dean Gordon, from Port Charlotte, drove into North Port to pick up one last item for his wife so she could finish her baking before the holidays. He told officers he needed Fischer-brand pecans. “I guess now my wife can finish her baking,” Gordon said when officers answered his small request. “We support our guys in uniform — in North Port, Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.” April Tomcik, a mother of three children ages 5, 8 and 10, was pulled over in the Walmart parking lot with her daughter Abby in the car. Tomcik said the 10-year-old wanted a bike for Christmas. Vespia and McHale quickly grabbed a pink bicycle with peace signs on it from inside the store, and Kimberle attached a red bow to the front. “Her whole room is decorated with peace signs — she loves them,” Tomcik said of Abby. “Every little bit helps, especially when you have three kids.” If the requested present couldn’t be purchased at Walmart, the officers handed the driver a gift card to the store for future wish-list items. Some drivers who stopped were so grateful they began crying and hugging the officers. Later in the day, officers gave out two PlayStation 4 gaming systems. Alexis Horvath was driving her mother Erin West and little sister Baylee West when they were pulled over by officers. West said she has been out of work for six months because of an injury. Her youngest daughter, Baylee, told officers she wanted a necklace with the letter “B” on it, bracelets and an iPod Touch. Officers inside Walmart were able to find all of the items on her wish list. “This is everything I could imagine,” Erin said with tears in her eyes about her daughter’s gifts. “It has been hard being out of work. God bless you all.” Email: ashirk@sun-herald
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 16:36:49 +0000
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