Fairfield police Care for Kids program bigger and better

An unidentified boy receives Christmas gifts from Fairfield Police Department patrolman Blake Wilder.
Photos by Tawni Lively, Central Maine Photography staff

by Mark Huard

The Cops Care for Kids program was initially started and funded by Kingston Paul, who was the former Detective Captain at the Fairfield Police Department. The program started with an idea that the police wanted to build a great relationship with our community and the children of our community. They started out by delivering just one stuffed animal to approximately 50 children with a tag attached with all the officer’s names on them. Many years later, the program has grown to delivering three small gifts and a stuffed animal to over 200 children of the Fairfield Community. The officers and other employees of the Fairfield Police Department now donate a portion of their checks every week towards the Cops Care for Kids program to ensure that Kingston’s idea and dream continued on.

Fairfield police officers play Santa for local kids.

And even though we lost Kingston last year, his memory and spirit still lives on with the program. To ensure the program continues for many, many years, Kingston left the program financially sound, so we could continue the tradition, because we truly care about the children of our community.

“As Chief, I was very humbled when I was informed about this program when I first started,” said Fairfield Police Chief Tom Gould. “I feel honored to work with employees who care so greatly for the youth in our community.”

Officer Shanna Blodgett added, “The officers of the Fairfield Police Department are very proud of this program and what it has grown to be. We look forward to our ‘wrapping’ party each year and to be able to see the joy and excitement on the boys’ and girls’ faces when we arrive to deliver. They simply light up.”