Alyssa Ridenour
reporter@greenepublishing.com
Five-year-old Alexis Kelley has developed a growing fascination and love for law enforcement and first responders. She has numerous police officer Barbies and G.I. Joes. She often rides with her mother, Maggie Kelley, to drop her 10-year-old brother, Elijiah Kelley, off at school. As they come and go, Maggie slows down her car so Alexis can wave at the officers stationed in the school zones.
Maggie had planned to have Alexis' birthday at a local pavilion or church and made a Facebook post asking for officers to stop by and say “hello” to Alexis. Not long thereafter, Kim Washington, from the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), reached out to Maggie and asked if she could bring Alexis by the office so they could give her a card.
Upon arrival, Maggie and Alexis were surprised to find a full blown birthday party awaiting them. There were cupcakes, gifts and plenty of deputies for Alexis to talk to and spend time with. Alexis' favorite gift was a teddy bear, which she named “Officer.” Officer now goes everywhere with her, except for school. If Alexis had it her way, Officer would be at school with her, too.