Merry Christmas! Police Officers Become Secret Santa Throughout The United States [Video]

Police officers throughout the United States are saying “Merry Christmas” in a most unusual manner: a traffic stop. In this case, the cops are playing Secret Santa in order to surprise the unsuspecting citizens.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, police had Mr. Grinch arrested for attempting to steal Christmas trees, decorations, and presents intended for children. A German Shepherd named Bela was fated to be euthanized, cremated, and mixed with the ashes of his dead owner based upon the last will and testament, but due to the intervention of some kind-hearted strangers, this dog will be barking, “Merry Christmas!”

Muscatine, Iowa, is hoping people will start to swipe things after their police officers are done with them. No, we’re not talking about going on a Christmas gift-stealing spree like Mr. Grinch. Instead, Muscatine Police Department Sgt. David O’Connor handed out Christmas gift cards to his fellow officers to hand out during traffic stops after hearing stories of other cops being similarly generous during the holidays.

“I bought eight $15 gift cards. I read about the news story and thought it was a pretty good idea and that our department could do something similar,” O’Connor said, according to the Muscatine Journal. “I told them, ‘If you’re just going to give them a verbal warning or something small, instead of giving a ticket, feel free to give out your gift card. Just get it done before Christmas.’ We just figured it’d be a small act of kindness.”

A West Virginia police department decided to get in on the Secret Santa trend, but this time they’re spreading cash. First Sergeant M.R. Crowder said an anonymous man gave them 10 $100 bills to hand out to people in place of traffic tickets.

“It’s excellent. I tell ya, I about got emotional on him when he was standing here,” Crowder told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. “When he gave it to me. I told him it’s probably one of the kindest things I’ve seen in my 20 years in being in law enforcement.”

A 17-year-old girl named Audra Daniloff is suffering from a life-threatening condition called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, so when those blue and red lights started flashing, she probably feared her Christmas was about to get worse. Fortunately, it meant the Secret Santa was on his way to help.

“I got some good news and some bad news for you, okay?” Saukville Police Chief Jeffrey Goetz told Daniloff after pulling her over. “The bad news first: I am giving you two tickets. But they are not the type of tickets you think. One is a plane ticket to New York. The other is a concert ticket for your favorite band.”

Police officers had worked with Audra’s father to set up the Secret Santa surprise.

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!