An Arlington police officer says she may have received the greatest gift this Christmas. Her boss, Police Chief Will Johnson, worked her shift Thursday so she could spend the holiday at home with her family.
Officer Rebecca Hyder thought she, like so many first responders, would have to work on Christmas Day.
“I have a big family and it’s hard being away from your loved on Christmas,” said Hyder, who is a patrol officer in the west part of the city. “There’s no way I thought I’d have Christmas off this year. So I’m very grateful and it means everything.”
Johnson challenged his officers to come up with a jingle promoting holiday safety and agreed to work the winner’s Christmas Day shift.
“This is one thing that my family can do for the cops, which is just say thank you for all the hard work they do throughout the year,” said Johnson. “I’m looking forward to my shift today, absolutely.”
Hyder comes from a family of police officers, and said it’s rare that all of them get to be together during the holidays. When she told them about the contest, they immediately jumped in to help her with her jingle – and ultimately she won.
“I was very excited,” said Hyder.
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Her dad even got to sing the jingle in the music video the department made.
Hyder said she can’t thank Johnson enough and wished him luck during his shift.
“It’s a pretty impressive act of kindness,” said Hyder. “I think he’ll do well. And I think the shift will be happy to have him.”
The chief's shift got off to a busy start. Shortly after it began, he tweeted that he was already responding to his first call, stopping a driver going 99 mph down the freeway.
“Anytime I get a chance to work the streets, it’s a real blessing,” said Johnson.
Hyder said she’s the one who’s truly blessed, working for a chief and a department that really cares.
