National Thank a Police Officer Day is always the third Saturday of September each year. This year you can show your support for law enforcement on Saturday, September 16th, 2023.
And Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (also known as L.E.A.D.) is on January 9th every year.
If you are a law enforcement family then you, without a doubt, show your support all year long. It is also refreshing to see local businesses and citizens backing the blue because we all know they deserve so much appreciation.
I love finding new and fun ways to show appreciation for first responders. You don’t need a lot of money or grand ideas to show gratitude. You don’t have to be a law enforcement family to engage in the activities on this list, either. The more community support that is given- the better!
Here are a list of favorites that are sure to put a smile on any police officer’s face:
Gift them a surprise or small gift they need but don’t necessarily expect.
If you have an officer in your family and want to give him/her a small gift I highly recommend Arrest My Vest spray! It eliminates odor on contact and takes away any smell from bulletproof vests and gear for good!
The best part is it is non-toxic and safe to use around kids/pets.
Check out Arrest My Vest here.
My husband loves the Midnight scent, but we also use the Unscented and Stressless scents, too.
If you see a police officer, say “hello” and share your appreciation for them!
Best part- it is FREE! Kindness doesn’t have to cost money- just a little effort.
Drop off a special treat at a courthouse or police department. The possibilities are endless. Muffins, cookies, donuts (I know, I know), fruit, you get the idea.
*Disclaimer: I recommend giving food to officers you know as most police officers will not accept handmade food from strangers.
Here are some great thin blue line recipes:
Thin blue line no bake oreo truffles
No-bake energy bites for police officers
Make police appreciation bags.
Here are some bags I made for Police Week and it has a FREE PRINTABLE.
Hide rocks near police stations with law enforcement symbols, like “thin blue line” or a police car.
Is hiding rocks a “thing” where you live? It is HUGE in our area. People paint rocks, hide them outside businesses and shops for others to find, a lucky person finds a rock, and it puts a smile on his/her face. 🙂
Check out this post for some ideas.
Make/decorate some thank you cards.
Very inexpensive and a great activity if you have little ones. A simple note of thanks can go a long way!
Here is a great thin blue line themed thank you card:
Pay for a police officer’s coffee or meal.
I love doing this every time I am in front of a marked cruiser in a drive-thru lane. Unexpected surprises can really turn someones day around! Or give a gift card for them to grab a meal or snack on the go!
If you have children, have them draw pictures for law enforcement.
Drawings from a young child would put a smile on anyone’s face!
Here are some free printables you can check out to download just for kids!
Open your home to law enforcement that are working and provide a hot meal.
If your husband/wife is a police officer and works locally to where you live, then this would be very easy to do. Word of a hot meal would spread like wildfire in my husband’s department.
The daily sacrifices that law enforcement make are incredible. They do more during one shift then I think some of us could ever imagine experiencing. A little support, respect, and appreciation are definitely in order for all men and women of law enforcement.
There is no gift too small and I guarantee you- whatever you do, WILL make a DIFFERENCE! And you can say thank you all year round .:)
Thank you to all men and women of law enforcement. We support you and recognize your daily sacrifices and brave acts not just on thank a police officer day but every day of the year!
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Read my PRIVACY POLICY here.