Aurora, Gary Police Officers Give Out Toys Instead Of Tickets
(CBS) -- Police officers in Aurora and Gary were giving out toys instead of tickets to some lucky drivers Tuesday afternoon.
Leanne didn't know it when Aurora police officers Jason Woolsey and Nicole Petersen pulled her over for rolling through a stop sign, but the young mother was brought to tears when Woolsey returned her drivers license and gave her several gifts.
It's part of the department's efforts to connect with the community - people Woolsey calls his customers - amid heightened tensions between the public and police following police-involved deaths in Ferguson and New York.
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Policing is about giving back, Woolsey says and today's efforts reflect that many daily interactions between police and residents can be pleasant.
Leanne hugged him and wiped away tears after Woolsey gave her some gift cards and Peterson passed out wrapped presents to the children the back seats.
Police bought the Christmas gifts with donations from charities and individuals.
Peterson says the idea came about after officers saw videos online of police in other states doing similar things.
In Gary, CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports little driving no-nos got more than 30 drivers stopped in their holiday tracks.
Four teams of Gary police officers had their trunks packed with treasures to give out. The officers targeted cars with kids.
"I was shocked," said 14-year-old Kadeem Waters. "I thought we were getting in trouble."
He got body spray and his sister, Krystal, got a Disney puzzle.
"Due to all the things that's been going around in all these different states, New York, we want to make sure that you know, people look at us from a positive perspective, too," said Gary Police officer Tamara Hill. "We're not bad people."
"It gives officers a good opportunity to actually interact with the children," said officer Keith Hojnicki.
New Mount Sinai church in Gary donated the toys. This is the first time Gary police tried this kind of giveaway.
