Alert: Officers Looking for Nice, Law-Abiding Residents in Fredericksburg: Police

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Officers are on the lookout for residents found to have been engaging in acts of . . . niceness and orderly conduct, according to Fredericksburg Police.

Throughout this month, police will be on the lookout for folks doing such things as holding the door for a stranger, properly using designated crosswalks and contributing to those folks ringing the bells at various Salvation Army stands.

If caught, residents will receive a gift card worth $5 and redeemable at various businesses in the downtown area.

"Building and maintaining strong relationships with the citizens we serve is paramount," Fredericksburg Police Chief David Nye said in a statement. "We have continued to increase our community outreach efforts this year and encourage our officers to have non-enforcement contacts with citizens each shift they work.

"We appreciate Fredericksburg Main Street Inc.’s generous donation of gift cards so we can foster positive relationships with citizens."

The latter organization to which Nye refers is a non-profit with a mission to "preserve and enhance the historic Fredericksburg’s diverse downtown through partnerships that support our vibrant community."

Photo: Fredericksburg Main Street Inc.