How do you ask first responders to give anything more — especially during this time of year? [1-6]
What’s the justification for labeling an event served by “heroes”?
Tall order, indeed, that word is. A “mythological or legendary figure often of devine descent endowed with great strength or ability,” reads one definition on Merriam-Webster. An “illustrious warror, a person admired for achievements and noble qualities, one who shows great courage.” [7]
“Shop with a Cop” is likely better known, and certainly more akkuterative. Our own Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office first facilitated this event in 2002 by teaming “law enforcement officers with nearly 200 youth from our county who are in need. For many, if not Shop with a Cop, they would not have a holiday celebration.” [8]
That’s a critically important word here: Celebration. Saline is blessed with being part of a much larger collection of incredibly generous adjacent, collaborative, and interdependent communities made up of businesses, individuals, and municipalities that freely provide financial support to those less fortunate here. Money is important. Vital. Indispensible. [9-12]
But in many cases, so too is =process. The process of shopping. The process of being “with” “a cop.” Or, this week, “with” “a hero.”
Earlier this week, Pittsfield Director of Public Safety Matthew Harshberger served point on two “Shop with a Hero” events here. The first was held on December 3 at the Target in Oak Valley Center, the socond on December 5 at Meijer on Ann Arbor-Saline Road. Ranks of participating first responders on hand included personnel from Huron Valley Ambulance, Michigan State Police, Pittsfield Township, Saline Fire and Police Departments. [13-19]
Experience for participants last night began in the parking lot where they were to pass a variety of trucks and patrol vehicles stages parked near Meijer store entrances. Once inside, those who’d registered were coupled with individual fire fighteres, officers, and paramedics to disperse far and wide with envelopes budgeted to indulge a variety of holiday wish list purchases.
“This is a great place for us to be,” Pittsfield Police Lieutenant Brandon Williams told Saline Journal. “Nobody’s hurt here — we’re here to make sure there aren’t even any hurt feelings, because everyone’s having fun. It’s another way to make a difference, make an impact in the community. It’s another very important difference.”
Approaches to these ninety-minute excursions varied by individual leader and group.
Some were very focused on making acquisition plans based on careful balancing on envelope fund budgeting. Others were challenged by logistics of handling the movement of multiple generously-sized plush animals in standard-sized carts. “Don’t worry,” assured one officer to a small girl intently monitoring the issue, “we’re allowed to have more than one cart. I know the rules.”
For every instance of a first responder positioned as follower for his group, there was another where a fireman or paramedic seemed to be leading his excitement brigade by identifying options.
Elsewhere, it looked at one point like things were about to get dicey for Saline Police Department Reserve Sergeant Jerry Salame. Among the choices for for childrens’ sleepwear there were two competing options: One “definitely had a cooler design,” as the overheard thought-process went at one point, but the other felt softer, more likely conducive to sleeping — “and that’s really what it’s all about.”
How to decide? “I’ll have to ask the policeman,” said the youngster to Saline Journal, pointing to Sergeant Salame. “They have to be the decider on the rules when you have important questions.”
We didn’t ask any of these first responders what drew them to participate in the Pittsfield Charter Township Shop with a Hero outings this week — nor how they’d found the time for it. The answers seemed obvious.
As for the reason for broadly using the term “hero” to identify those who came out to =accompany= those who were given holiday money to spend as they did so, that was a question we did ask. It’s a word that encourages a way of those who accompany their heroes to think about themselves.
Following is one answer that reflected the sentiment of all.
Look— let me explain it to you this way. They go out and catch criminals and stamp out fires every day and sometimes even at night. That’s what heroes do, because other people could get hurt if they don’t do their jobs perfect every time — and they could get hurt on themselves if they run in and try to keep other people from getting hurt when they do their jobs to keep everyone else from getting hurt all over.
It’s scary. I bet you’d be too scared to do it. Everyone would be. But they aren’t. Well, maybe they are; I don’t know. But anyway, they do all that anyway. I know that much about what they do.
So after all that, today they’re with us. So what does that make us? Really cool. That’s what that makes it for all of us. I bet it’s cool for you, too — and you’re just getting to watch it all happen.
Do you understand what it means now?
We do.
References
- “What type of 911 calls are most common on holidays?” Colby Gallagher (May 27, 2013) WFXL Fox 31.
- “Winter holiday fire facts” National Fire Protection Agency.
- “On the Beat over the Holidays: In Conversation with Wayne Vincent” Sarah Estill (December 2016) Community Policing Dispatch.
- “5 holiday traditions every police household will understand” Chief David Oliver (December 18, 2018) Police One.
- “Holiday, candle and Christmas tree fire safety outreach materials” United States Fire Administration, US Department of Homeland Security.
- “20 Secrets of 911 Dispatchers” Jessica Hullinger (November 19, 2015) Mental Floss.
- “Hero” Merriam-Webster.
- “Shop with a Cop” Sheriff’s Office of Washtenaw County Michigan.
- “‘Giving Tuesday’ 2019 is your chance to help less fortunate in Saline get their family coffers into the black, too — twice over” Dell Deaton (November 29, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “Update To Santa’s ‘List’ Located In Saline (None Naughty, All Nice), Although ‘Sleigh’ Appears To Be A Silverado” Dell Deaton (November 27, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Twelfth Annual ‘1600 Toys For 1600 Girls And Boys’ Donation Drive Is Underway And Needs Your Support” Dell Deaton (November 7, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “There’s One Hole at 2018 LPGA Volvik Where Every Putt is a Guaranteed Win – for CS Mott Children’s Hospital” Dell Deaton (May 18, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Public Safety” Pittsfield Charter Township Michigan.
- “Ann Arbor” Target.
- “Welcome to Saline Rd Meijer Store” Meijer.
- Huron Valley Ambulance (home page).
- Michigan State Police (home page).
- “Saline Area Fire Department” Saline.
- “Police Department” Saline.
