Cookies for Cops

Sam Anderson (left), director of Brainerd's Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge program, prays with law enforcement officers Russ Wicklund, Jim Exsted, Mike Bestul, Paul Rosier and Craig Katzenberger Tuesday outside of Perkins in Brainerd. The officers hold bags of cookies given to them by a group that wishes to remain anonymous. With recent tragedies around the United States, a group who has been having coffee every Saturday at Perkins since 1975, wanted to do something to recognize the efforts of local law enforcement in protecting the community. Using Perkin's buy 3 get 3 free program to multiply the numbers, the group worked with Perkins' manager to set the 'Cookies for Cops' in motion, giving over 200 cookies to the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office, Brainerd Police Department and Baxter Police Department. Anderson sent the officers and squads back to their duties with a prayer for safety and to pass along the message to the rest of law enforcement that "they are appreciated."