In my last post, I wrote about how much I love random acts of kindness, especially when times are hard. Unfortunately, it looks like times have only gotten harder since then. Police officers, in particular, are being targeted for violent crimes.
As a LEO wife myself, it’s really hard to see these stories on the news. It makes me scared, and it makes me angry. My articles about dealing with fear and anger as a police wife have gotten insanely popular, which is both exciting (as a blogger who wants to know I’m making a difference) and heartbreaking (as a LEO wife who understands why they’re becoming popular). It tells me that the police and their families need our support more than ever now.
I’ve recently been getting a lot of texts from friends and family who are also troubled by the current climate. They want to know how they can help, because they’re not sure how to make things better. It makes me so happy that they want to help. Their kindness lifts my heart and makes me feel like the police aren’t quite as up against it as they appear.
The trouble is, the police are in a perilous position. The recent targeting of police officers means you can’t really bake for them, since they don’t know you and it’d be easy for you to slip something in. That would have to You also don’t want any of your good deeds to come off as bribery. Then, of course, cops are typically on the move, so who knows when you’ll see one to help out?
I’ll admit, I had trouble thinking of ideas, too. Nonetheless, I came up with a few ideas for those who want to help make a difference, because being a source of light is the best way to dispel the darkness.
15 Random Acts of Kindness for Police Officers
- Pre-pay for a treat. One idea is to go to a local donut shop and ask if you can pre-pay for a dozen donuts for the first officer who comes in. It’s a nice surprise for the officer who receives it, plus they don’t have to worry about the food having been tampered with, since it’s coming straight from a store.
- Donate to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The website is here. They also have information about events to support the fund, like 5Ks.
- Pay for their order at a restaurant. If you’re at a restaurant and a police officer is eating there, too, ask for their check and pay for it. If that’s not in the budget, have the waitress send a dessert and add it to your check
- Write letters of appreciation. Who doesn’t love getting letters? This is a great family activity. You can write letters, help older kids write letters (and teach them proper formatting for letters!), and let younger kids who can’t write yet draw pictures for their local police officers. This is a good opportunity to explain to your kids how the police help us every day.
- If you have a police officer neighbor, help them with a chore or two. I heard a story the other day of a teenage boy who decided to mow his neighbor’s lawn. He left a note telling him how much he appreciates his service as a law enforcement officer. I thought it was so sweet! You could use this example and mow the lawn, water the lawn, or help pull weeds.
- Vote in favor of police when they ask for money from taxes. Nobody likes paying taxes, but this helps them by giving law enforcement better funding with which they can buy better equipment. This keeps them safer and more likely to be able to return home to their families.
- Bring treats. Now, you can bring them treats, they just can’t be homemade. The best things to bring are small and individually wrapped, like Hershey Kisses, lollipops, or even a case of soda.
- Speak kindly of police officers. Even those who pull you over. Be a good example for your kids, and help them to remember that they’re people too, with family and friends who love them.
- Choose to support businesses who are pro-police and avoid those who are anti. Vote with your dollar.
- Pre-pay for dry cleaning services. If there’s a dry cleaning service nearby you know a lot of cops use, pay for the service in advance if they’ll let you.
- Mention good deeds, even the mundane. Good cops aren’t just the ones who make the news for buying homeless people groceries or helping people with tickets. Good cops are those who leave their families and go to work to protect yours. Be sure to mention when you see or hear about a good deed they’ve done, even just preventing a negligent driver from hurting others.
- Pray for local law enforcement. It’s possibly one of the most powerful things you can do, and it’s absolutely free.
- Drop off non-food gifts. If you like to knit, why not make some hats for your local department? You could also make crafts with your kids, like handprints that say “high-five for cops!”. Get creative!
- Take care of their families. If you have neighbors who are police officers, do something nice for their spouses and families. Drop off a new toy or two with a note of appreciation.
- Share good news about cops on social media. Combat the negative with positive.
Police officers go through so much just on a day to day basis at their jobs. They see the worst of humanity, the most depraved, and they do so at risk to their own lives. Kudos to you if you want to help make a small difference in their days, and thank you!
In the interest of positivity, what’s the nicest thing you’ve seen a police officer do?
Leah
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(((((Hugs))))) to you sweet friend and thank you for all you do by supporting a police officer. My homeschool group recently visited a police department. They gave the kids a tour and answers questions for them. But we had spend a day before that preparing goodie bags for all the police officers in our area which included five police departments and about 100 police officers. I am so glad my children got to be apart of this and experience loving police officers in days that police officers are made out to be the bad guy so often. Thank you to your husband as well.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! And thank you for sharing your story – I absolutely love to hear about good deeds like that 🙂 That must have been such a wonderful experience for them (and for you!)
My significant other is a LEO and he shows several acts of kindness every shift. He plays basketball with local kids at the park or “jumps” the dirt ramp that local kids made on a bike. He loves spending time with the local kids. Just recently the department he was working at was disbanded due to false accusations and all of his blue brothers and sisters would do anything for their community. Say a prayer for them all! 🙂
As a LEO daughter, I have the honor of owning my dad’s scrapbook. In it is one letter that stands out. It is a thank you letter from a couple who were visiting my hometown. Unfortunately, at the time, they were in an automobile accident. Thank God, neither one was hurt, but their car suffered enough damage to make it inoperable until it was fixed. My dad was the responding officer to the accident and when he found out that they were on vacation and that their car would be in for repairs for several days, he decided then and there that their vacation was to continue. He gave them the keys to our personal car and told them to enjoy the rest of their vacation. Years later, I still look at that letter and beam with pride! I know that the majority of all our LEOs are just like this. They may wear a metal badge, but underneath is a heart of pure gold.
Leah and Sarah: I am a recently retired “LEO” from Chicago and I truly appreciate this article. One random act I personally tell citizens is to spread positive information to combat the negative information about LEOs. The truth is there are more good cops out there than bad. Many, many good deeds are performed on a daily basis by cops that are above and beyond that which is required of them, and it always goes unnoticed. If citizens, especially those in underprivileged neighborhoods, were to spread the word about a good deed they’d seen or experienced it would help immensely! Community leaders, pastors and teachers who encourage supporting LEOs can really help. It’s disheartening, and frightening, to hear community leaders who talk negatively about cops. If a teacher or pastor would invite their local beat officer to come in and talk to their students, congregation or community, in an open communication forum, I believe it would help. The public needs to see their police officer as a human being with families and dreams and similar problems. It is the criminal element of society that is propagating negativity about the police and all too often the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Another step citizens can take is to support legislation that takes stronger legal measures against those who threaten or harm a police officer. In Chicago recently there have been attacks on cops who were off duty, some who were in their private vehicles and were followed home from the police station after work. If you live next door to an “LEO” pay attention to his/her home, property, pets and family. Cops work crazy shifts. Bad guys have been known to find out LEOs home addresses. I’m sorry if that sounds scary, but unfortunately, it’s a real threat. Just as you’d do for any other neighbor, report suspicious activity or people around the LEO’s home and be sure to tell the 911 operator it’s an LEO’s home. I’m not keen on the blue porch lights or blue ribbons to show support for the police. Some bad guys associate those blue lights and ribbons with homes of police officers. Finally, don’t be offended by an LEO’s standoffish personality. Cops often stay to themselves or only associate with other cops and don’t seem very friendly. Say hello anyway. LEOs experience things that human beings weren’t wired to experience. It eats away at one’s humanity. After 911 when citizens would come up and thank me for my service, well, it honestly just rocked my thin blue line. Don’t hesitate to say it. Sorry for the long post; I don’t see pro-police discussions so it was hard to keep it short. Thank-you!
My husband is a sergeant in the motorcycle unit and he takes the cycle to community events and lets kids (and even some adults) sit on it for pictures and play with the lights. Everyone gets a kick out of it and there are always big smiles.