The Fairfield Police Department recently delivered gifts to children in the community through the department’s The Cops Care for Kids program.

The program was initially started and funded by Kingston Paul, who was the former detective captain at the police department, according to a news release from Mark Huard.

Dispatcher Jeanne Kempers, left, with Officer Blake Wilder, recently deliver gifts to children in a Fairfield home. Tawni Lively/Central Maine hotography staff

The program started with an idea that police officers wanted to build a great relationship with the community and the children of the community. They started by delivering just one stuffed animal to approximately 50 children with a tag attached with all the officers’ names listed on them. Many years later the program has grown to delivering three small gifts and a stuffed animal to more than 200 children in the community, according to the release.

The officers and other employees of the police department now donate a portion of their checks to the program. And even though Kingston died last year, he left the program financially sound.

Officer Shanna Blodgett said, “The officers of the Fairfield Police Department are very proud of this program and what it has grown to be. We look forward to our ‘wrapping’ party each year and to be able to see the joy and excitement on the boy’s and girl’s faces when we arrive to deliver. They simply light up,” according to the release.

Chief Tom Gould said, “I, as chief, was very humbled when I was informed about this program when I first started. I feel honored to work with employees who care so greatly for the youth in our community,” according to the release.

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