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Santa teams up with Melvindale police for some holiday cheer
It was a jolly good time in one southern Wayne County city as unsuspecting citizens were pulled over. But the surprise waiting for them was some gift cards and cash, rather than a ticket. For this community, the celebration goes deeper than just enjoying the season - but honoring one of their own.
MELVINDALE, Mich. (FOX 2) - For one Melvindale man, the flashing blue and red lights of a police cruiser made him worry after they appeared on Friday afternoon.
But when a jolly bearded man decked out in red and white showed up alongside the officers, his worry turned to relief.
"I saw all the cars, I was like ‘dang, what do I do?’ But when he came out, I was like ‘we good,'" he said.
He wasn't the only resident in the Wayne County community to be pleasantly surprised in the week before Christmas. But just like all tight-knit communities, their shared joy runs deeper than just seasonal traditions.
Another woman who got a visit from the police still had the blue ribbon on her home that honored Melvindale's fallen police officer Mohamed Said.
"During my illness, he always came in everyday and said ‘how you doing, hope you’re feeling alright' and when I stopped working, he still checked on me to make sure that I was doing okay," she said. "So miss him a lot."
Said died this year when he was shot by a fleeing suspect in July.
Beloved by the city and honored by those that knew him and those that did not, the police department sought to continue celebrating his life.
"You don't come across individuals like Mohammed Said. He gave his heart and soul in this community," said police chief Robert Kennaly. "His favorite quote was ‘I got you’ and that's what we're telling him right now. We got you."
Among the pieces of his legacy he leaves behind was a holiday toy drive that allowed him to give back to the community.
To continue his efforts, the local police department teamed up with Santa to continue spreading cheer.
"That's what it's about this time of year, giving back to the community, giving back to the people, letting them know that we're not just enforcers, we are the supporters," the chief said.
Officer Mohamed Said's 7-year-old brother escorted by police on first day of school
Melvindale Officer Mohamed Said was killed in the line of duty in July. While his family is still reeling, the Melvindale Police Department held up a tradition in Said's family and took his 7-year-old brother to school on his first day of third grade.