By Police1 Staff
AUGUSTA, Maine — A 5-year-old girl’s favorite police officer showed up to surprise her at her police-themed birthday party.
Officer Brad Chase and Evie Flanagan met during “Coffee With a Cop,” ABC News reported. A snowstorm canceled the event, but no one notified Chase or the Flanagan family and they were the only ones there.
“I was getting ready to leave and Evie and her family walked in,” Chase said. “She was dressed up in her cop uniform and I felt horrible and told them, ‘Hey, if you won’t mind driving, come down to the police department and I’ll give you a personalized tour.’”
Evie and her siblings got to sit in a patrol car and left with police stickers. Chase gave Evie’s mom, Lauren, his card and asked them to keep in touch.
Evie, who has wanted to be a police officer since she saw the movie “Zootopia,” decided she wanted a police-themed party. Lauren emailed the Augusta police to see if they could help in any way.
“[Chase] had let us know it probably wouldn’t be him to be there on her birthday because that’s not typically a day he’d be working, but over time he started to notice how much Evie would appreciate it if he himself was there,” Lauren said.
https://www.facebook.com/AugustaMainePoliceDepartment/posts/1310053665777335
To Evie’s surprise, Chase showed up to her May 13 party. Her face “lit right up.”
The duo posed for pictures in their matching police uniforms and ate some cake and doughnuts. Chase told ABC that he “thinks it’s cool that she’s my biggest fan.”
“It’s great for Evie to see someone who is taking the time to connect with the community,” Lauren said. “Anytime Evie sees a police officer, no matter what they’re doing, she would say to them, ‘When I grow up, I’m going to make the world a better place. I’m going to be a police officer.’ In her mind, that’s what cops do.”