Cookies, pizza and lots of love for cops

Police, sheriff's officers appreciate shows of support

Jefferson City Police Officer Geoffrey Rowland reaches to carry in a large warming bag containing about a dozen pizzas delivered by people to show their appreciation for law enforcement. Jennifer Fischer, left, picked up 30 pizzas, and along with others in her group, including Sandy Kliegel, in background, delivered cards and cookies. After numerous incidents nationwide in which law enforcement officers were targeted, area residents are showing their support of local law enforcement.
Jefferson City Police Officer Geoffrey Rowland reaches to carry in a large warming bag containing about a dozen pizzas delivered by people to show their appreciation for law enforcement. Jennifer Fischer, left, picked up 30 pizzas, and along with others in her group, including Sandy Kliegel, in background, delivered cards and cookies. After numerous incidents nationwide in which law enforcement officers were targeted, area residents are showing their support of local law enforcement.

By 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, representatives of Jefferson City's Primrose Senior Living Center - with the help of some area preschool children - delivered some cookies and about 30 pizzas to the Jefferson City Police Department, and more cookies and another 30 pizzas made their way to the Cole County Sheriff's Office.

"We just wanted to show the police department and the community our respect for the police department" and the sheriff's staff, Executive Director Sandy Kliegel explained.

"I think, just as our nation faces tragedies everywhere with the police that it's just kind of nice for communities to come together - I think communities need to start coming together, instead of being separated."

Although law officers have been getting more attention in recent weeks - after the assassinations of five offers in Dallas, Texas, two weeks ago; three officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sunday; and a Kansas City, Kansas, officer Tuesday night - Primrose is one of a number of companies and organizations that have been bringing officers food and other gifts on a regular basis.

"I don't think appreciation is ever an overload," Kliegel said.

"I think it's nice to have joint efforts within the community, to come together for a purpose, to honor our police officers and the sheriff's department," co-worker Valerie Fischer added.

"We had children throughout the community (help) - we had a daycare come in and make cards and banners."

Jefferson City Police Capt. Doug Shoemaker said it's all appreciated.

"I think that we can never truly express the amount of gratitude that we have for that because, at the end of the day," he said, "having the community support behind the men and women (who) do this on a daily basis out on the streets it means so much to them that they have a community that has their back and appreciates them."

Sheriff Greg White agreed.

"I think it's an incredibly kind thing - we're all touched by it," he said. "Sometimes in law enforcement, you forget that the public actually does care about you and loves you."

Both White and Shoemaker said the recent violence has placed extra pressures on law officers around the country.

"We have not had trouble with any of our people responding or the ways that they're responding," White said. "After Baton Rouge, I just reminded them, 'Keep your gear together, be observant of your surroundings and execute your job honorably.'"

Shoemaker said officers are grieving for the fallen officers and their families.

But they're still coming to work.

"I think it's a very difficult time for us - at the same time, we're here because it's in our hearts to be here," he said. "This is not a job where you're going to be over-paid, where you're going to be able to retire early and live on the beach.

"That's not what police work is - it's a calling. It truly is."

Law officers often put themselves in danger while answering calls like domestic violence, fights or shootings, they said.

"So, those steps of appreciation," Shoemaker said, "no matter how small, or seemingly small to the person doing it, mean the world to us."

He said people who want to make donations to the Jefferson City police should contact Chief Roger Schroeder's office.

On the sheriff's side, White said: "If you're going to drop something by - like a card or nibbling food - that's great. Just do it.

"If you want to drop something by where the intent is to feed everybody on duty," it's better to call ahead.