For a limited time only, police are helping drivers bring home the turkey, not tickets.
The Mesa Police Department in Arizona adopted a community outreach program that surprises people by pulling them over, then giving them a free turkey instead of a speeding ticket.
“When you made your turn, you made a wide turn. You’re supposed to stay in your lane,” Officer Jason Flam of the Mesa Police Department told a motorist.
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When Flam returned, he had a frozen turkey in hand, which he gave to the motorist for free.
Here is one happy driver that got a turkey instead of a ticket. @lindawfox10 got a chance to talk to him. Watch the story later today on @FOX10Phoenix @MesaPD pic.twitter.com/cWVy4GHIOx
— Mesa Police Dept. (@MesaPD) November 22, 2021
The Turkeys Not Tickets program was proposed by a Mesa police commander to help officers connect with their community, reports FOX 10.
“I think it’s a great idea. I was telling the officer, in the past few years, police officers in general have gotten a bad rap, and I think it’s important they get recognized for putting it out there every day,” said one resident of Mesa.
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Other encounters were more emotional, with people bursting into tears due to being unable to afford a turkey.
Mesa police are not the first to adopt such an outreach program.
In 2016, the Fort Worth Police Department also gave out turkeys to unsuspecting drivers during Thanksgiving week, reports FOX 4. Fulton police in Sauk Valley also gave out turkeys in 2021.
