A number of police officers converged on Fort Dodge Senior High School on a morning shortly before Christmas for a happy occasion.

The officers were the guests of honor and the recipients of box after box of Christmas goodies prepared by the Dodger softball team.

Led by coach Andi Adams, the players decided to do something special for a group of people who are always there to protect them and everyone else in Fort Dodge. The goal was to give the officers a break from the regular grind for at least one morning.

Being a police officer is never an easy job. The softball team’s gesture came at a particularly tough time for the city’s officers, who were in the midst of investigating the death of a newborn baby.

The team members proved that in addition to being masters of the softball diamond, they are pretty handy at baking. But the effort was about more than providing Christmas cookies and other treats to the officers. It was really about recognizing what those officers do for the community every day. It was about showing appreciation in some small way for the role that those officers play in making the community safe for all.

Adams told The Messenger that effort was to “humanize the officers and detectives, and to build a stronger relationship and level of respect with who they are and what they do.”

The officers enjoyed the treats and the opportunity to meet with the softball team, according to Police Chief Roger Porter.

The cookie effort gave the young women the opportunity to think about a group of public servants and the magnitude of what they do for the community. Although it probably didn’t seem like a lesson in any traditional sense of the word, it taught them a perspective that will make them better citizens.

We thank coach Adams for leading this lesson that benefited both the players and the officers. And we thank the players for embracing this special baking challenge.