Marshfield Police Serving It Up At Senior Center

There’s a certain kind of event in town that doesn’t make a lot of noise but leaves a pretty big impression.

That’s what happened again recently when officers from the Marshfield Police Department spent time serving lunch and visiting with seniors at the Marshfield Senior  Center in Marshfield.

According to Police Chief Doug Fannen, the gathering has quietly become one of the department’s favorite traditions.

And it all started a few years ago, during a very different kind of visit.

“Three or four years ago we were going around talking about a law enforcement tax,” Fannen said. “We went to a lot of places in town. Everyone was friendly. But when we went to the senior center, it was different.”

The chief said many of the seniors there already knew officers personally. Police had helped them with small things over the years—sometimes things that had nothing to do with crime.

“We’ve helped people open jars so they could cook breakfast,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve helped with electrical problems or other little things.”

But what stuck with officers was the warm welcome they received that day.

“People wanted to hug you. They were telling you they loved you,” Fannen said. “You could tell they really cared about law enforcement.”

After the tax measure passed, the department decided they didn’t want to forget the support they received.

So each year since then, officers try to come back and serve lunch to the seniors. Wednesdays are usually the best day. That’s when the center holds bingo and tends to have its biggest crowd.

And the welcome hasn’t changed.

“The minute you walk in the door you’re getting hugs,” Fannen said. “It’s like going to your grandma and grandpa’s house.”

Officers help serve food, sit down and talk with residents, and stick around long enough to join the fun. This year they even got invited to play bingo.

But something else happened during the visit that caught the chief by surprise.

One of the seniors suggested collecting donations for a local deputy who had been shot. The officers hadn’t come looking for donations. In fact, Fannen said the goal of the event is simple.

“We just want to serve them,” he said. “No strings attached.”

Still, the seniors insisted. And many of them gave what they could.

“That meant a lot,” Fannen said. “A lot of those folks are living on Social Security or very limited income. When people give out of that, it’s pretty amazing.”

Fannen later contacted Webster County Sheriff Roye Cole to let him know about the donation. The sheriff, he said, was deeply appreciative.

For the police department, the day also carries a different kind of meaning.

In nearly two decades as chief, Fannen said there are only a couple of events where the entire department consistently shows up together. One is the annual Shop with a Cop program at Christmas.

The other is visiting the seniors.

Officers often arrive early, chatting and joking before heading over. It’s a noticeable change from the usual mood at the station.

“When we’re getting ready for search warrants or serious calls, everyone is focused and quiet,” Fannen said. “But when we’re going to see the seniors, the whole building feels different.”

He said moments like that give officers a chance to drop the tough exterior that the job sometimes requires.

“When you’re going to dangerous calls, you’ve got to carry yourself a certain way,” he said. “But when you go there, you can just be yourself.”

That might mean laughing, swapping stories, or accepting a hug from someone who reminds you of your grandparents.

And judging by the smiles on both sides of the room, it’s a visit that means just as much to the officers as it does to the seniors.