Madison Tracy has a big heart. She donates her birthday and Christmas money to charity. She delivers stuffed animals to hospitals to be distributed to ailing children. She puts the needs of others ahead of her own.
And in recent weeks, as law enforcement agencies across the nation have suffered tension between themselves and the communities they serve, she set about to ensure that Collier County deputies and Naples police officers know they are appreciated. Madison and her mother have hand-delivered more than 60 stuffed animals to local deputies and police officers, along with a note that thanks them for their service.
This week Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk met with Madison and her mom, MaryAnn Tracy, to let them know their gestures of kindness mean a lot.
“You are doing a very good thing,” Sheriff Rambosk told Madison. “I want to thank you for all you are doing for our community and for law enforcement.”
Sheriff Rambosk presented Madison and her mom with bags containing tokens of the agency’s appreciation for their good deeds. Among the items in Madison’s bag was a shiny CCSO challenge coin. “Only very special people who do very special things receive those coins,” he told her as she gazed at the coin.
CCSO Lt. J.J. Carroll, who leads the agency’s Golden Gate Patrol District, is the recipient of one of Madison's stuffed animals – a lime-green frog.
“I was somewhat shocked to see Madison at my office and was absolutely overwhelmed by her gesture,” he said. “It’s comforting to know our community supports us with the recent events that have occurred around the country.”
Madison, 9, will be entering the fifth grade at Pelican Marsh Elementary School in August. She and her mom are challenging others to join them in their “Best Buddies In Blue” project by distributing a stuffed animal and a hug to law enforcement officers they see in their community.
“I just feel like deputies don’t get much credit for the work they do,” Madison said.
ABOVE: Photo by Cpl. Efrain Hernandez/CCSO
