A routine Saturday patrol for the Bow Police Department took an unexpected twist when a truck driver at the Alltown truck stop on Route 3A sought assistance. The driver had an extra pallet of frozen chickens that needed a destination. Sergeant Harry Handy quickly called in Detective Sergeant Tyler Coady to tackle this unusual situation.
The truck driver’s predicament was not a common occurrence for law enforcement. “The trucker had to find a home for a pallet of whole chickens. So we made a phone call, several phone calls, to try to find a home for them,” Coady explained. While the Bow police have previously dealt with finding homes for dogs and even a loose emu, this was their first encounter with a surplus of 250 processed chickens.
After reaching out to several organizations, the Friendly Kitchen, a nonprofit based in Concord, New Hampshire, agreed to accept the donation. The police officers used a pickup truck from the local fire department to transport the boxed chickens, which had traveled all the way from Texas, to the food pantry.
“What else are you going to do with a pallet of chickens? There are hungry people,” Coady remarked. He noted that each four-pound chicken would be used to create meals serving six to eight individuals, potentially feeding approximately 1,500 to 2,000 people.
Coady has a history of community involvement, including a notable incident years ago when he assisted a resident who was unable to transport her frozen groceries home after a lightning strike forced the closure of a road. He carried her groceries down the street, earning a moment of fame when it was featured in the news.
Reflecting on the recent chicken delivery, Coady expressed satisfaction in knowing the donation would help the community. “Thankfully, they were already dead,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s one of those feel-good type things where the public gets to see what we do.”
The Bow Police Department’s quick response and community-oriented approach highlight their commitment to service, even in unexpected situations. The successful transfer of the surplus chickens to the Friendly Kitchen exemplifies how local law enforcement can play a vital role in addressing food insecurity.
