MSP troopers collect toys and other items to help those in need

Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter
·1 min read

COLDWATER — Residents were generous Saturday at the Coldwater Walmart, where Michigan State Police troopers filled a patrol cars with donations for eight hours. 

The annual Stuff a Blue Goose events are held around Michigan to collect donated toys, clothing, and non-perishable food to help those in need for Christmas.

Daryl Trufant of Coldwater hands over his donation to trooper Zoey Feighner as Det. Sgt. Matt Berry and Cody Boatman look on at the Coldwater Walmart Saturday.
Daryl Trufant of Coldwater hands over his donation to trooper Zoey Feighner as Det. Sgt. Matt Berry and Cody Boatman look on at the Coldwater Walmart Saturday.

All donations will benefit families in Branch County.

Donations can still be made at the District Post in Marshall on Old U.S. 27 just south of I-69.

Why are the patrol cars nicknamed "Blue Goose?"

Daryl Trufant makes his donation to trooper Zoey Feighner while Det. Sgt. Matt Berry and trooper Cody boatman look on.
Daryl Trufant makes his donation to trooper Zoey Feighner while Det. Sgt. Matt Berry and trooper Cody boatman look on.

According to a 2012 story in the Ionia Sentinel-Standard, until 1954, the color of state police patrol cars had been uniformly black with gold door shields and striping painted on since the 1930s.

MSP Commissioner Joseph A. Childs, who served from 1952-1965, decided to "add some life" to patrol cars and changed to a bright shade of blue that remains standard today.

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Uncomfortable with the "gaudy" new patrol car, troopers dubbed patrol cars the "Blue Goose" in a parody of the well-known "Greyhound" commercial bus line of that time.

Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: MSP Blue Goose donations help Branch County residents in need