Secret Santa Helps Cape Cod Police Spread Holiday Cheer

YARMOUTH, MA – Some drivers stopped by Yarmouth police over the holidays were stunned to get cash instead of a ticket. The department was once again given $3,000 by a local Secret Santa for its police officers to hand out at Christmas.

The donation was extra special coming at the end of a difficult year for the department, which saw the murder of Sgt. Sean Gannon and the deaths of retired Lt. Robert Shallow and longtime dispatcher Stephen Peterson.

"This year has been extra hard on so many people all across America; as well as the men and women of the YPD who have endured the violent loss of a police officer, the shooting of a police dog, the death of a beloved retired police lieutenant, and the unexpected death of a 40-year veteran police emergency 911 dispatcher all in the past 8 months," Yarmouth police said.

Armed with $20 and $50 bills, officers drove around town spreading holiday cheer. One driver wrote on Facebook that he was stopped on his way home. When the officer returned the man's license, he handed him a $50 bill and wished him a Merry Christmas.

"In addition to protecting us and serving us, we have been given a great surprise to us and our children," the man said.

Another woman said her Amazon driver was pulled over after midnight. The officer thanked the driver for his deliveries and gave him $50.

"The driver said it made his Christmas," the woman wrote on the Yarmouth Police Department's Facebook page.

Yarmouth police shared a story of an encounter between an officer and a man walking on Rt. 28. The man was "downtrodden and appeared to be someone who could use a break and a smile," police said. The officer handed him some cash, and the man asked if he could give the officer a hug.

"The two men---complete strangers---hugged each other as hard as they could and shed some grateful tears in the middle a lonely sidewalk on Route 28 in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts.," Yarmouth police wrote on Facebook. "Two human beings, from completely different walks of life bound by empathy, resilience, and compassion; trying hard to get through their day and get home safe at Christmas."

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