From: Chief P.K. Johnson
Millbrook Police Department
Since 1996, the officers and support staff of the Millbrook Police Department, each year at Christmas, have pooled together their own money in an effort to help a family or two in need, be able to provide Christmas gifts for their children, who may not otherwise receive a gift underneath their tree. As our department grew to meet the needs of our growing city, we were able to do more, and those numbers increased each year.
In October 2015, Lieutenant Don Pugh approached me with the idea of what is now Operation Blue Santa. It entailed soliciting assistance from our local businesses, churches, civic organizations and individual citizens to donate funding and toys, which would be distributed to area children in need, from families that were either submitted through local churches or vetted through an application process at the police department. While I thought this to be an excellent idea, I had serious doubts that we’d be able to execute such a task in the limited time that we had prior to Christmas. Lieutenant Pugh and our staff assured me that we could accomplish the task at hand, so despite my concerns due to time constraints, I gave the approval.
I learned two very valuable lessons that year. Never doubt Lieutenant Don Pugh and our staff when they are committed. More importantly, NEVER underestimate the generosity of our wonderful community! Despite the limited amount of time we had to reach out to our community, our local businesses, churches, civic organizations responded overwhelmingly. The very first Operation Blue Santa Campaign allowed us to assist approximately 60 children in 2015.
Shortly after our 2016, Blue Santa Campaign was completed, I was approached by Johnny Stiles, who was, at the time, President of the Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Three Rivers Chapter. Mr. Stiles, who is the husband of Melissa Stiles, Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police and Communication Supervisor for the Millbrook Police Department, offered to partner with the Millbrook Police Department for not only Operation Blue Santa but our Cops and Kids, Millbrook Police Reserves and Junior Police Academy community outreach programs, as just a few of their community service projects. For the record, the Punishers live their moto, which is “In Service to Others.”
Since the Punishers LEMC Three Rivers Chapter adopting Blue Santa and the partnerships developed within our community, the outreach of the Blue Santa Campaign has grown from us being able to provide Christmas gifts for 60 children in our first year in 2015, to 215 children in 2025.
That is an amazing testament to the generosity of our wonderful community, the level of support that this department enjoys from the citizens that we serve, as well as a desire on the part of all involved to give back to their community, which is one of many things that makes Millbrook a special place to live and raise a family.
As Mayor Al Kelley often says, “when you start thanking people or recognizing other’s efforts, despite your best intentions, someone will inevitably/unintentionally be left out.” That said, I would be remiss if I didn’t try. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the following businesses, churches, civic organizations that partnered with us to make our 2025 Operation Blue Santa a huge success. They are the Punishers LEMC Three River Chapter, American Legion Post 133, Ashley Williams and her staff at Pest Pro, Robinson Springs Church, Millbrook Presbyterian Church, New Life Church, Elmore County District Judge Ben Baxley, Millbrook Municipal Judge Bradley Ekdahl, Vance Law Firm and Brookside Funeral Home. I also want to extend my appreciation to Mayor Al Kelley and the Millbrook City Council for their leadership and support in allowing us to give back to our community, as well as the Millbrook Fire Department and Parks and Recreation for their assistance in this endeavor.
In closing, but certainly not in the least, I want to recognize the tremendous efforts of Captain Jason Brosius and my Administrative Assistant Mrs. Melissa Stiles, who put in a lot of time and hard work in the planning, organizing and execution of Operation Blue Santa, as well as our officers and support staff who assisted them. To all involved, mere words cannot express my sincere appreciation and admiration for all of your hard work and efforts in your service and giving back to our community. I am beyond proud to work alongside each one of you as your Police Chief and a very small part of something much bigger than our department.
As I say each year, “nothing is cooler than knowing that a child, who may not have had otherwise received a gift on Christmas Day, has something underneath their tree.” Because of each one of you and your generous efforts, there will be a lot of smiles on a lot of little faces. Job well done!
On behalf of the officers and staff of the Millbrook Police Department, thank you! May each of you and your families have a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year.
