An anonymous set of donors have called on local law enforcement again to continue with the Holiday gift contacts in our jurisdiction. Attached is a media release for this cooperative effort between local departments for this weekend. Photos with representatives from each department are attached as well. In the Photo left to right are Chief Whitaker, WPD; Officer Wilkie, WPD; Sheriff Goshert, KCSD; Deputy Kuhn, KCSD; Chief Hawn, WLPD; Officer Bumbaugh, WLPD.

This weekend the Warsaw Police Department, the Winona Lake Police Department and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department will be participating in an event to help bring a little extra joy to this holiday season. They hope for many positive encounters with their neighbors and are grateful for the ability to give back to individuals in the area that may be in some need. Officers from all three agencies will be making contact with individuals throughout the communities and providing them with a gift to ease the burden placed on families at this time of year. The main goal is to brighten Christmas for as many people as possible through an anonymous gift provided to the community just for that purpose. Officers will be attempting to contact individuals that they feel could benefit from the gift and believe these positive contacts will increase the interaction with the people they serve.

Chief Whitaker expressed, “These types of interactions with the public provide positive feedback and seem to strengthen our relationship with community members. The Warsaw Police Department is happy to participate in this program again this year and looks forward to participating in the future. Members of our great community continue to give each year, making this an amazing time of year. I know our officers enjoy participating.”

Chief Hawn stated, “This program also provides officers with positive interactions with people in our community. I have officer’s offering to volunteer on their personal time to take part in this event. It is amazing when there is this much interest in making a difference in the lives of the individuals we serve.”

Sheriff Goshert advised, “A large percentage of Law Enforcements contacts with the public are during stressful situations that may not be pleasant. We would like not only to put the gifts provided to good use, but to change some of those interactions into positive situations with our officers.  These acts of caring provide the same impact on both parties, both law enforcement and the public are influenced positively by this.”

Officers will be making contacts with individuals in the communities through the weekend. These contacts could be that the person appears to be in need, or that the person just needs to know someone in the community cares enough to make life a little bit easier during the holiday season.