When a police officer pulls you over, you typically expect it to cost you. In Shawnee, some citizens are experiencing the exact opposite.
Officer Kasie Taulbert has done some unusual traffic stops this week.
On Friday, she pulled over Richard Alonzo for a broken brake light. Little did Alonzo know, Taulbert was looking to surprise a citizen with $100.
“The whole warm and fuzzy thing, it just takes it to a whole new level,” said Taulbert. “You know, I got into this job to give back to my community and make a difference in somebody's life, and it's hard to put into words."
Alonzo was shocked. He plans to pay it forward.
“I was explaining to her that I feed the homeless on the weekends,” Alonzo told 41 Action News. “This money is going to go directly to them.”
The Shawnee Police Department received $10,000 from an anonymous citizen. That person tasked the police department with distributing it, to help shine a more positive light on law enforcement.
Taulbert also surprised a shopper in the local Hy-Vee and a single mother and her son at Dollar Tree.
Mother Tiffany Faught was speechless. She’s grateful; she’ll now be able to buy more for her son for Christmas.
"I haven't been able to give him shoes. I'm a single mom, and I've been out of work for a while,” she said, holding back tears.
Police officers in Shawnee will continue to randomly select citizens to surprise until Christmas Day.
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Lexi Sutter can be reached at lexi.sutter@kshb.com.
