Thanksgiving With The Fourth Precinct (And God Bless Them!)

Photos and blog post by John Hoff, except last photo was contributed, xoxo

For the past several years, Northside neighbors threw a Thanksgiving meal for all three shifts of officers at the Fourth Precinct. Joan Thom and her husband, Len Lewis, are the primary organizers of this event with a lot of help from Buzzy Bohn and her son, Jeremiah.

It wasn't your usual Thanksgiving conversation as officers laughed over which officer would eat extra pie, versus which officer would be the "designated runner" in foot chases. One officer was described as a 14-year veteran who...

...can run like a deer, even while wearing a utility belt. The officer himself, however, was more humble and felt like he'd been getting slow in the past few years compared to when he was younger.

There was general agreement among the officers that Thanksgiving is indeed volatile, as relatives get together, drink, and then argue while cooped with each other. The Winner Gas station (Lyndale and West Broadway) was described by one officer as selling beer "left and right" on Thanksgiving Day, since the liquor stores were closed.

Officers expressed thanks to residents who provided the meal, but the residents were insistent that it is the officers who deserve our thanks, every day, and a meal on Thanksgiving while they work their shifts, away from their families, is the smallest of favors.


The officer at the front desk, above, was very nice to my 13-year-old son, Alex, and showed Alex stuff about the cameras and shot spotter.
Joan Thom helps with the meal as officers serve themselves. The officer who can "run like a deer" is to the right of Thom.
Pies served to the officers included pumpkin, blueberry, cherry, pecan, and this helpfully labeled sweet potato pie.
My son Alex assisted by cutting up numerous pies. This is the second year Alex has been to the event, click here for coverage of the previous event.