Anonymous donors, local law enforcement spread holiday cheer

LEWIS | Sgt. Kaycee Kolodzey of the Essex County Sheriff's Department participated in a version of "Secret Santa" where she gave out cash instead of tickets, Nov. 28. An anonymous group of more than seven individuals, mostly from Lake Placid, donated about a thousand dollars to the Essex County Sheriff's Department to spread the holiday cheer. "It's such a fun, unique thing to do," one donor who has been participating for three years, said. "It's just another way to be able to give back and spread a little joy in the community at a time that should be joyful and full of hope and just an easy way to add to that. Plus, it's kind of funny." The project started in Lake Placid originally but has spread as its grown over the years. This year Essex County Sheriff's Department, Lake Placid and Saranac Lake Police Departments participated. The goal was to get a little extra money in the hands of community members to help with extra holiday expenses. Law enforcement officers have to have a reason to pull someone over, so Kolodzey drove all over Essex County, keeping an eye out for drivers with expired registrations and inspections or going over the speed limit. Erin Grinnell from Crown Point had never been pulled over in her life. Kolodzey did her regular greeting and gathering of information, then went back to her car to look her up in the system and to randomly pick an envelope out of her door compartment. "So actually what we're doing today is when we pull people over, instead of tickets we are giving people money," She explained. Each envelope had either $50 or $100. Next, Kolodzey pulled over Sister Sharon Dalton, who said she would donate the $100 she received. "This is wonderful, what a surprise," Dalton said. Frances Olcott was on her way home from picking up medication for her dog when she was pulled over. The money in the envelope was the exact amount she just had to spend on the medicine. "You couldn't have been at a better time," Olcott said. "Thank you so much." As Kolodzey drove back to the Public Safety Building, she pulled over to check in on someone who was pulled over with their hazards on. She gave Allan Beal from Westport a ride to the car shop, along with an envelope. By the end of the day Kolodzey gave out six envelopes, totalling about $350. She plans to give out to rest the next time she is out patrolling. Kolodzey said people are not always so nice when she pulls them over, so it was a nice change to give them good news.

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Anonymous donors, local law enforcement spread holiday cheer

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