Friday, December 27, 2002
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Friday, December 27, 2002 |
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Holiday turkeys a way for PTC to thank police officers By JOHN
MUNFORD
Approximately 60 employees of the Peachtree City Police Department received a smoked turkey for the holidays for a second straight year last week as thanks for their efforts year round. George Vuduris of Vuduris Marketing said the idea sprang up last year after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 when he was looking for a way to thank local police officers. Vuduris cleaned and cooked the birds, which were donated by the city's Kroger stores and finished on smokers donated by Rod Moore at Fayette Rental. Vuduris's day began at 5:30 a.m., but the thanks from the police officers as they accepted their turkeys was very gratifying. Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray said this is the only time of year he allows officers to accept a donation of value. Department regulations forbid officers from receiving benefits not available to the general public, except for the occasional slate of baked goods donated by citizens. "They can't have half-price meals and they can't take free coffee in stores," Murray said, adding that officers are only allowed to use discounts available to the general public. Companies and others who have offered to donate food and other items to the department in appreciation for their efforts are steered to donate the items to charity instead. Murray said the exception was made for the smoked turkeys because Vuduris and Kroger's Paul Yellina have been friends of the department for years and it was "personal" for them. "We appreciate the community we live in and being able to sleep at night," Yellina said. Over the years, Yellina's Braelinn Kroger has helped the department with a variety of projects, including a fundraiser to buy bulletproof vests for officers. "We got to church with these officers and we have watched their children grow up," Yellina said.
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