RARELY SEEN, MOSTLY HEARD article continued:
Snacks On the Go
Submitted by Tonyia Percy, MCPAAA
It’s said that, “between the thin red line and the thin blue line, lies the thinnest line, the gold line, which represents those that are rarely seen but mostly heard...the calm voice in the dark night.” We are the golden glue that holds it all together. And we are here for YOU when you need us most.
The Mobile Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (MCPAAA) was approached in 2019 and asked if we could furnish snacks for the officers to grab and go during the Christmas holidays as they were very busy. We were asked to furnish them to each of the precincts. MCPAAA knew that this would be a great opportunity to thank our officers for their hard work on the streets keeping us safe. We were given numbers for each precinct and purchased sealed snacks and beverages that could be eaten on the go. The snacks were originally set to be distributed during the Christmas holidays, but when the pandemic hit, our officers were having to operate on a more aggressive schedule. We saw a need and were able to put together snacks for the precincts as well as make face masks to assist in the unprecedented times.
MFRD Public Safety Dispatcher Bessie Brown
“911 dispatchers are the first trained point of contact during an emergency. We obtain essential information from callers while remaining calm as well calming others. Each day brings something different so the job can be demanding and stressful at times. But knowing that I’m there in a time of need and able to help those in the community and surrounding areas is my reward.”
The snack project has grown in popularity with the community such that we are receiving donations from the public and one group adopted this as their “Holiday Give Back” project. The MCPAAA continues this fun event as a small way of saying thank you to the officers on the streets. The MCPAAA is very appreciative for the support of our law enforcement organizations in the community allowing us to give back in such a small way. We have fun and enjoy serving the officers who serve us.
—Bessie Brown, MFRD Dispatcher
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