A 7-year-old boy in Ansonia, Connecticut, came up with a simple way to earn money for something he wanted for school: a new pair of sneakers. Landen set up a small stand outside his home, selling lemonade and cookies for $1 as he tried to save enough to buy the shoes himself. But his little business caught the attention of a local police officer, Joel Perez, who stopped by and learnt what the young boy was saving for. Rather than simply wishing him luck, Perez decided to do something about it. He left the stand and returned a few hours later with a pair of new Adidas sneakers, leaving Landen surprised and delighted.
Police chief praises Officer Joel Perez
The young boy was not simply selling refreshments for fun. He wanted to earn enough money to buy a new pair of blue sneakers for school. His effort to save for the shoes caught the attention of Officer Joel Perez, who was serving with the Ansonia Police Department. The gesture also received appreciation from Ansonia Police Chief Wayne Williams. Commenting on Perez’s actions, Williams reportedly described him as the kind of officer the department wanted to recruit. The chief’s response highlighted the importance of community-oriented policing, in which officers build relationships with residents and support people beyond their routine law enforcement responsibilities.
Who is Officer Joel Perez?
Perez was a relatively new member of the Ansonia Police Department when the incident took place in September 2022.
Reports at the time said he had joined the department in March that year and previously served as a military police officer.