Goody-bag effort shows support for St. Charles police

Several St. Charles residents and businesses showed appreciation for the city's police officers Thursday by showering them with goody bags and handwritten thank-you notes.

“We just wanted to say 'thank you' to all of you,” said gift drive organizer Caroline Cayton, who added police often have to deal with stupid complaints from the community.

The effort was made in response to the killing of five police officers last week in Dallas. Cayton posted the plea for gift cards and help on the “What's Happening in St. Charles IL?” Facebook page.

They made 51 bags for the officers, which included Rice Krispie treats, boxes of Girl Scout cookies, trail mix and other snacks, a one-week pass to a gym, bottles of water and Gatorade, gift cards for Dunkin' Donuts and Graham's Chocolates, gift certificates for a free meal at The Claddagh, and a keychain bearing a pink piggy. St. Mark Lutheran Church offered space for packing the bags and brought a box of doughnuts for immediate snacking.

There was also a gift bag for the department's dog, Aries, with a gift card and supplies donated by Petco.

“We thank you. We are blessed to work in Kane County and St. Charles,” said Chief James Keegan, adding that St. Charles is very supportive of the department. “It is a tough job and getting tougher. But it is a great police force that really does model itself on fairness.”

Cayton also had a rubber duckie, to be passed along to the officer who last week helped her husband rescue a duckling from a storm sewer.

“It (St. Charles) can be a really nice place, and it can be a real snotty place. But not one negative comment was made on the (Facebook) post, and that to me is huge,” Cayton said.