OCALA, Fla. (AP) -- A Florida police department has spread some good will this holiday season, handing out some $4,200 to unsuspecting residents.
In a news release, Ocala police officials said Operation Secret Santa was made possible by 14 anonymous donors. Earlier this month, four officers who were dubbed as "elves" sought out the unlikely suspects.
The officers handed out gifts of up to $200 in cash through traffic stops, in parking lots, at bus stops and in parks. In a couple of cases, the connections were "pre-planned" by officers who alerted the "elves" to residents who were going through a difficult time.
In most cases, people were skeptical when they were stopped by police officers. But the officers quickly told them there was nothing wrong and handed out the cash.
