Anonymous 'Thank You' Makes Deputy's Day

San Juan Capistrano, CA It was a bit of a dreary day for Orange County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Bob Taft.

Officers throughout Southern California were on high alert just days after terrorists in San Bernardino gunned down 14 people at an office Christmas party.

Taft had just taken a report from a San Juan Capistrano homeless woman whose worldly posesssions, all contained in a backpack, were stolen.

So when he returned to his patrol car to find a small package sitting atop his car, he didn’t know what to think.

“I looked to see if there was anybody around, but I didn’t see anybody,” said Taft.

What he found was a first in his 23-year law-enforcement career. He found

• A Lifesaver “to remind you of the many times you have been one.”
• Smarties “to give you wisdom for those split second decisions.”
• Starburst “for the burst of energy you need.”
• Hersheys Kisses “to show our love for you.”
• Gum “to help everyone stick together.”
• A Tootsie Roll “to help you roll with the punches.”
• A Peppermint Patty “to help you keep your cool.”
• A Dum Dum “because you deal with a lot of them.”
• A Pay Day “because you’re not doing it for the money.”
• and Laffy Taffy “to remind you that laughter is a great stress reliever.”

As a marine and then as a cop, Taft had been thanked for his service by strangers before.

“People say ‘thank you,’ but I never received, on the marine side or the law-enforcement side, such an overt gesture,” Taft said. “I really appreciate them taking the time to put that together to show their appreciation.”

Unable to thank his anonymous supporter in person, Taft posted a picture of the package on his Facebook page.

Back at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the gesture touched the other officers as well.

“It makes you feel good, and it makes you feel appreciated,” said Lt. Jeff Hallock, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Sometimes people will leave a note on a napkin or write ‘thank you’ on your coffee cup, but this gesture included some planning, creativity and a sense of humor, he added.

“For people to reach out and say, ‘Hey, thanks for what you do,’ it means a lot,” Hallock said. “We don’t hear that all the time.”