Sandwiches in tow, 4-year-old gives back to Lower Burrell cops

Arianna Wilson was watching Disney Junior before school Monday when she saw a commercial for National Police Week.

An admirer of the police, the 4-year-old told her mom she wanted to bring officers with the Lower Burrell Police Department something to eat.

“She said ‘Mommy, it’s police week. Let’s bring food to the police officers,’” said her mom, Kelly Wilson.

Wilson asked her daughter what they should get. Arianna, a student at Bethel Nursery School in Lower Burrell, said sandwiches.

“She said, ‘Well, Daddy likes sandwiches. All the police officers are probably daddies, too, so they would like sandwiches, too,’ ” Wilson said.

Chips, cookies and drinks were also a necessity.

Wilson said Arianna became really curious about police after a couple of officers visited her class this month to teach the importance of 911.

She hugs them when she sees them in public and pretends she is a police officer during playtime, her mom said.

“She has a little Power Wheels Jeep. She chases down bad guys and tells them they’re breaking the law, and they have to stop because it’s the police,” Wilson said.

“She talks about how the police officers will come and save everybody from bad guys and keep everybody safe.”

Mom and daughter brought the goodies to the department after school Monday.

Arianna used some money from her piggy bank to pay for the officers’ meals. Mom and Dad pitched in, too.

“She wanted to use her money,” Wilson said. “We’re really proud of her to want to give them lunch and to recognize them like that. And to want to pay for it.”

Arianna spent about an hour eating and talking with the officers, getting a tour of the station and sitting in a police car. She was able to activate the lights and siren and talk on the loudspeaker.

Asked what she liked best about the experience, Arianna said: “Playing in the police car.”

Police Chief Tim Weitzel said it’s heartwarming to know Arianna spent her saved money to buy the department lunch.

“She is an adorable little girl with a captivating presence,” Weitzel said. “She certainly made friends out of a group of people she didn’t know and gave the officers a memory that will last their entire careers.”