A driver pulled over by Bridgeport police Thursday for not wearing his seat belt

[George II]

A driver pulled over by Bridgeport police Thursday for not wearing his seat belt looked from right to left to see officers on both sides of his car.

“Step out of the car,” one officer can be heard saying in a video posted by city police on the department’s Twitter page.

But that officer wasn’t holding a ticket for the driver as he pulled into the Stop & Shop plaza on Fairfield Avenue, he was holding a box with a turkey in it.

Some unsuspecting drivers were pulled over by Bridgeport police officers as they pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store and given free turkeys just a week shy of Thanksgiving.

“People were so surprised,” said Police Chief Armando Perez. “They’re thinking maybe they’re going to get a ticket, but they get a turkey. That’s what community policing is really all about — public servants serving the public.”

Link to tweet

[Demovictory9]

1. k&r

[PeeJ52]

2. I wish I could feel as good as watching this every day....

It's the way it should be...

[Garion_55]

3. im not sure im good with these PR stunts

while the cops intentions might be good this time, the people being pulled over dont know that. and if someone is scared to going to jail for something or with having any interaction at all with cops, things could end up going badly.

[Poiuyt]

9. I agree, but for different reasons

Before I retired, I ran a nonprofit organization that dealt with children in a small town. I would not want people to see me pulled over by the police and have them assume the worst.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. Watch while we put this black guy in a situation that left other black guys dead but all we did was

was give this guy a turkey! Don't you feel good now? DON'T YOU?

[Susan Calvin]

7. That's how I see it as well. nt

[zentrum]

13. Exactly.

Really passive aggressive. Stunts aren't supposed to terrify or draw a veil over what is a horrendous systemic problem.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. "That's what community policing is really all about -- public servants serving the public."

Maybe if they actually did serve the public, they wouldn't have to stage these stunts.

[PJMcK]

6. At one time, I taught at the University of Bridgeport

The campus is located in a curious neighborhood in that it overlooks Long Island Sound and its nautical beauty. Contrastingly, it's located in a rougher part of the city.

When I taught there in the late '80s - early '90s, I had a few encounters with the police and always found them to be professional, polite and somewhat humorous.

I've had similar experiences in Tampa.

[SergeStorms]

8. Thank the FSM for that.

After reading the header for the post I expected another story about a Black Man being gunned down for no reason at all. Whew! It's nice to read a positive human interest story from time to time. It restores my faith in humanity, if only temporarily.

[CaptYossarian]

10. There's an old expression: Good news doesn't sell papers.

Could it be that they never tried? The most charismatic, most popular presidents of the last 100 years had positive messages: FDR, JFK, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama. Now we're stuck with a bully and troll.

[SergeStorms]

14. Yep, and look all the press he gets.

It's everything he's ever wanted. All Trump, all the time. It makes the majority of all others violently ill, but he and his cult love it.

A belated welcome to DU, by the way!

[jmowreader]

11. I hate it when cops do this

They scare the shit out of people for no reason.

This is worse: The Moses Lake, WA, police department (MLPD) has a program where they help out a number of needy families at Christmas time. They call it "A-Rest." Good intentions but nasty execution: They send the SWAT team, the sheriff, the chief of police, and every other high-intensity cop in the department over there and conduct a mock SWAT raid. So...all the neighbors THINK the cops are fixin' ta haul the whole family off to Leavenworth when all they're doing is presenting the family with gift cards.

OTOH, the MLPD "Shop with a Cop" program is pretty good.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Personally, I think it is just a stunt.

Question I have is why don't public safety people do this when they are not on the clock?

It is great they are giving but they are doing it at taxpayer expense. When they raise money it should be on their own time. Like the rest of us do. I would be okay with having a collection at their worksite. But when they use a government vehicle that is wrong. It is also taking time away from their duties.

I also have a problem with fake arrests for the purpose of a marriage proposal. Or any use of government property for personal use.