ABERDEEN, Md. — As you drive around, no matter what neighborhood you're in, you'll see holiday decorations and Christmas lights. One family's Christmas decorations has a special meaning since they were donated by Aberdeen Police Officers.
"As a police officer we see people at the worst moments of their life, every call that we have. So if we can do something small like this just to kind of restore hope than that's what it's about," said Aberdeen Police Officer Cynthia Mowery.
Mowery is a rookie officer with the department. She's been patrolling the streets for about a year but has been serving the community in other for years before. She worked for the Harford County Sheriff's Office and as a director of a nonprofit organization for at risk youth.
Mowery has always been community driven.
"I believe in people. I believe in the good," she said.
That's why she felt like she needed to do something after one of her calls. It was a vandalism call, Christmas decorations destroyed.
"At first I was really upset," said Richard Vincenti. "As soon as my children saw it, it made it ten times worse."
Vincenti has two boys, one six years old, the other two.
Officer Mowery said she just couldn't their look of disappointment when their blow up Santa was deflated.
"I was still thinking about it when I woke up the next morning and that's when I knew," she said.
So she bought new decorations with help from other officers and they all put them up at the Vincenti's home to surprise the boys.
"I wanted the boys to maybe wake up the next day and have their faith restored, maybe have mom and dad's faith restored that there is good in the world," said Officer Mowery.
"I mean I couldn’t believe it that somebody is gonna go out of their way to do that. They really didn’t have to. We appreciate it so much," Vincenti said.
He said his boys were so surprised and it brought them so much joy.
Officer Mowery said she was just doing her job and believes anyone else would have done the same.
"When I end my career, my goal is if one person can come forward and say I remember when this police officer made an impact in my life then I’ve done my job," she said.
Officers have not been able to track down the people who vandalized the Vincenti's Christmas decorations. Vincenti said he was planning on getting new decorations but the Aberdeen officers beat him to it.
