New Bedford officer thwarts local Grinch, embodies holiday spirit

December 8, 2016 9:07 pm

By: Kainani Stevens

kstevens@abc6.com

NEW BEDFORD, M.A. – It was just a few days before Thanksgiving but 82-year-old Dorothy Charbonneau of New Bedford found herself dealing with a Grinch.

Two packages filled with steak and shrimp for a special holiday dinner with her son were stolen right off her porch.

But it’s the response from New Bedford police officer Jason Viera that embodies the true holiday spirit.

"She mentioned she was excited to share that dinner with her son and I just thought I don’t want her to have that moment stolen from her too. Just felt like I should do a little something more," said Officer Jason Viera of the New Bedford Police Department.

With that, officer Viera left, promising to return with a police report number the following day.

"The following morning you dropped off a letter in her mailbox containing the report number and also a gift card to stop and shop so she could enjoy that special dinner with her son," said Chief Joseph Cordeiro of the New Bedford Police Department

Officer Viera’s coworkers had no idea about his good deed until a Facebook post about the incident went viral.

This post from the woman’s grand daughter caught the attention of New Bedford police Chief Joseph Cordeiro.

The city council and police department honored officer Viera for his good deed as well as his 17-years of work with New Bedford Police Department.

According to Chief Cordeiro, this just one small example of what a police officer should be.

"His charitable spirit, kind and good heartedness. It takes community policing and kicks it up about ten notches. You don’t read about this in a textbook, they don’t teach you this in the academy. This is a home grown one of our own from the city of New Bedford."