by Kris Hauser
Do you ever wonder why we don’t see more upbeat stories in the news about our law-enforcement officers? There are many cases of police officers working in their communities for the good of those living in them. However, it seems that every time we turn on the news — mainstream media, that is — we only see the negative and ugly stories about law enforcement. I believe we should also spotlight the positive and heroic stories.
There is good and bad in all of us. However, in my opinion, the good always outweighs the bad. That should be our focus as a society. If the media reported the positive acts our law-enforcement officers perform monthly, weekly, and daily, it would help bring together police and citizens. People want and need to believe in those who are there to protect and serve them. It also goes the other way; the police will be encouraged to know that their communities support them. How can anyone properly perform their duties when they are constantly in doubt? That would be a heavy weight to bear.
As the LECF’s mission statement declares, we strive to protect the bond that exists between communities and local law enforcement. The following story is about a program that started with a vision to do just that — and then made that vision a reality.
That program is Police Lights of Christmas, an outreach started in 2016. Q90 FM, one of Northeast Wisconsin’s local Christian nonprofit radio stations, started this initiative to benefit those in the area who are less fortunate — the homeless, needy, and brokenhearted. The staff at Q90 FM had an amazing vision: They proposed collecting gift cards, going out into the community at Christmastime, and surprising those who needed to be shown love and compassion. However, they had a problem: How would they find the family who did not have enough food to last them through the week, or who could not pay their next electricity bill? What about that person who is living in his car, or who is grieving and lonely? The answers to these questions were vital to the entire concept of the Police Lights of Christmas outreach.
In July 2016, multiple police officers were tragically ambushed in Dallas, Texas. Five officers were killed, and nine others were injured. Two civilians also were wounded in the ambush. The shooter was enraged over the shootings of black men that occurred days before this horrific incident. This tragedy, along with the media’s continued highlighting of negative news regarding law enforcement, put a strain between police officers and a sizable portion of Americans. Those Americans distrusted the police, and the police feared violence directed against them.
This incident led to a “wake-up” moment. The staff at Q90 FM believed God was calling them to shed a positive light on law enforcement while helping those in need. It dawned on them that their local police officers knew how to locate the needy in their communities. They knew who the homeless people were, and where to find them. They knew how to find those who were struggling from day to day. Police officers regularly encounter those who need a helping hand, and many dig into their own wallets to help the less fortunate. The staff at Q90 FM now knew what to do! The police were best equipped to distribute gift cards and help the needy. So, Q90 FM decided to partner with local law enforcement. They would stock area police officers’ vehicles with gift cards, and when those officers were on patrol, they would distribute the gift cards to needy individuals and families they encountered.
The police were not only helping their neighbors in need, but their actions started neutralizing the hate and negative stigma promoted by mainstream media. This doubled the impact the outreach generated. As the Police Lights of Christmas website declares, “we will proactively do what we can to maintain positive relationships between our officers and the communities they serve — setting an example for the rest of the world; setting the bar.”
To build constructive relationships between communities and the police officers who protect and serve them, both must come together. This outreach program is succeeding in doing just that.
In addition to gift cards for specific businesses — including Kwik Trip, Culver’s, Walmart, McDonald’s, and Subway — Visa gift cards are also given to those who are homeless or who do not have a place to stay at the time. These gift cards can be used for hotel stays, car repairs, gas, and many other necessities.
For example, the Green Bay Police Department used these gift cards to help two families who each had a child with cancer. They purchased groceries for the families, not just for the holidays, but to last them a couple of weeks. The families spend all their time and energy paying medical bills for the cancer treatments. This helped them concentrate on their children without worrying about groceries, even if for a short time.
The Police Lights of Christmas program distributes more than just gift cards. For example, it accepts donated items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, socks, mittens, and other necessities. These are combined into “care backpacks” and distributed to local police departments, who then distribute them to the needy.
This outreach program gives police officers an opportunity to help others in need, and it allows them to interact in a positive way with people within the community. It is a wonderful way for police officers to start a conversation with people who are not in an emergency. The emotions of those they encounter are genuine. At first, they may be apprehensive, but this is usually followed by tears of happiness and sincere gratitude. This outreach program is building trust and changing the way countless people perceive the police.
The Police Lights of Christmas outreach has grown bigger and stronger each year since its inception in 2016. The program started with two police departments, $10K in gift cards and 100 backpacks. Look at how much it has grown with each passing year:
In 2017, there were five police departments involved, $25K in gift cards, and 250 backpacks.
In 2018, there were 20 police departments involved, $50K in gift cards, and 600 backpacks.
In 2019, there were 25 police departments involved, $75K in gift cards, and 750 backpacks.
In 2020, there were 30 police departments involved, $100K in gift cards, and 750 backpacks.
In 2021, there were 50 police departments involved, $165K in gift cards, and 1,000 backpacks.
In 2022, there were 55 police departments involved, $185K in gift cards, and 1,000 backpacks.
I can’t wait to see what the numbers will be this year. So many people benefit from this amazing program; tens of thousands of neighbors in need have been helped by thousands of police officers. Those who donate are a key reason why this program is so successful — they are the heroes behind the heroes. If you would like to participate in helping those who are less fortunate, while at the same time supporting our law-enforcement officers, you can donate by visiting lightsofchristmas.us.
The 2023 Police Lights of Christmas program will begin with its “Christmas in July” events, which will take place across Wisconsin. If you would like to see a full list of this year’s fundraising events, they will be posted online by the end of May.
What follows is an example of the fundraising events that help support this worthy program.
Twice a year, the police officers in Portage County, Wisconsin, trade their uniforms and badges for aprons and gloves. They take the place of cooks and servers at local restaurants to raise funds for the Police Lights of Christmas outreach.
Last year, officers donated their time at Culver’s and Pizza Ranch. They were at Pizza Ranch in Plover in July, and Culver’s in Stevens Point in October. According to Stevens Point’s chief of police, Bob Kussow, the officers enter the restaurants and do whatever needs to be done — they wipe down counters, do dishes, and even deliver food. They literally take over for the staff. It does not matter what needs to be done; the officers jump on board to help those in need. The money received is divided between all the departments and goes back into their respective communities.
Patrol officers can distribute both the gift cards and care backpacks while they are out and about. Those gifts are given to those who are struggling, whether financially, mentally, or physically. If an individual had a very bad day, these items can be given to lift their spirits. The gifts also have been given to those victimized by a crime. In some cases, if an officer spots someone doing a good deed, he will hand that person a gift card.
Another example of fostering favorable attitudes toward police may occur when an officer pulls over someone for a traffic violation. Instead of a ticket, the officer will hand them a warning and a gift card. Can you imagine that person’s shock? The individual not only avoided a costly ticket, but also received a gift. What a great feeling that must be, not only for the recipient, but also for the giver. What better time of year than the Christmas season to be an example of love and compassion — after all, isn’t that what it’s all about?
In Neenah, Wisconsin, a single mother of three found that caring for our neighbors really does happen. She heard a knock on her door and went to investigate. She saw a police officer standing there and was immediately filled with apprehension and negativity. What happened now? Is someone hurt, or worse?
However, the officer from the Neenah Police Department handed her three gift cards. She was shocked — it was the last thing she expected. The officer told her to have a Merry Christmas and left. She was touched; it meant the world to her.
Thank you to everyone involved in the Police Lights of Christmas program. The LECF wishes continued success in achieving the all-important goal of restoring trust between police and citizens. This is a vision the LECF strives to attain as it is vital to sustaining safe and healthy communities.