Giving Thanks For Mobile Police Officers

Alabama Mobile Christmas dinner comes early for the Fourth Precinct.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Thu, December 18, 2008 - 9:01 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, December 18, 2008 - 9:39 pm CST

Christmas came a week early for members of the Mobile Police Department's Fourth Precinct.
A citizens group prepared a feast for the men and women in blue Thursday night.
Members of the Mitternight Park Community Action Group prepared Christmas dinner for the officers.
Ann Breland had a special story to tell about why she appreciates the police.
She said she was on community watch one evening in her neighborhood and was held up.
Breland said, "He put a gun right on the tip of my nose and said, 'I will blow your brains out.' He said, 'Hand me the purses.' And so, I just started handing him the purses, and, as I handed it to him, I thought it was the end, and he looked at me and said, 'I ought to blow your brains out, that's what I ought to do.' "
But the gunman didn't, and Breland says he later drove off.
She then called police and thanks to quick work by one police officer, Breland said, "23 minutes later, he had our purses retrieved."
Within a week, police arrested two gunmen.
Breland said, "You hear them (people) saying, 'Oh, I was screaming for help and here comes the blue lights,' or whatever. That is a good feeling, let me tell you, when you see them coming. Its just like, 'Its going to be okay now.' "
Breland's daughter is president of the community action group.
Jessica Breland said, "Most of these guys will either spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day working, and won't get to spend the holiday with their families, so we just wanted to show our appreciation to them by cooking them a home-cooked meal and just letting them know that we're thankful for our everyday heroes."
Police Captain Eddie Patrick of the Fourth Precinct said, "For these ladies to spend the time cooking and the money and preparing such a fine meal as they prepared for us tonight, it really benefits us and helps us with our morale."
Actually, officers in the Fourth Precinct may be getting used to home cooked dinners from the people they serve.
Members of the Mitternight Park Community Action Group said they hold a pot luck dinner once a month and invite the officers to eat with them.

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