Cookies for a Cop delivers at Hamilton Police Department

Rachel McCoy, left, is assisted by Becky and Caden Crawford, as she delivers cookies to the Hamilton Police Department Monday, Oct. 10 in Hamilton. McCoy is part of the “Cookies for a Cop an our Fire Friends” program and delivers the cookies to show appreciation for law enforcement and fire fighters. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Rachel McCoy, left, is assisted by Becky and Caden Crawford, as she delivers cookies to the Hamilton Police Department Monday, Oct. 10 in Hamilton. McCoy is part of the “Cookies for a Cop an our Fire Friends” program and delivers the cookies to show appreciation for law enforcement and fire fighters. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Hamilton resident Rachel McCoy and several volunteers delivered more than 5,000 cookies to the police department as well as to fire stations in the city.

McCoy, who organized the event for the second straight year locally, felt this year’s effort to show support for law enforcement and EMS personnel has been heightened because of the recent uptick in violence towards police officers and the stress first responders deal with because of the heroin crisis.

Shooting deaths of law enforcement officers spiked 78 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to last year, including an increase in ambush-style assaults like the ones that killed eight officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, according to a report released recently by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

“It is important that we show our law enforcement and fire department that we support them,” McCoy said, as she unloaded dozens of cookies Monday afternoon out of her SUV preparing to deliver them at HPD. “Going to work as an officer in the city of Hamilton the past few months has to be very trying with all the violence going on. Officers leave their families before every shift not knowing if they will return home just to protect you and I, so a few pieces of candy here or there is the least we can do.”

Cookies for a Cop has become a national program that has gained strong support after social media buzz energized the efforts and interests in the movement, which was started to show support for the men and women who protect and serve towns and cities across the country.

According to Becky Grizovic, who is part of the national program, the idea is to bake or buy cookies and other sweet treats and then deliver them to officers at the police station. This is the third year for the campaign, and it has fostered a strong connection between law enforcement and communities across the country.

Officer Kristy Collins of Hamilton’s police department said the gesture shown by McCoy and the other volunteers “is something that the police department appreciates very much,” adding that “Rachel does a fantastic job of organizing the it.”

McCoy also arranged to have cookies delivered to the Butler County Jail, Ohio State Patrol on Route 4 and the Juvenile Detention Center. Treats were also brought in for HPD’s K-9.

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