WATERVILLE — As the manhunt for police-shooting suspect John Williams extended into its third day Friday, Winslow resident Shane Morrison said he remembered how draining it can be for an officer in the command center.

The former police officer and his wife decided to do something. They mobilized an organization they run, Central Maine Jeep Owners, and on short notice donated five carloads of food to weary officers.

“I just thought it was a good thing to do for our law enforcement agencies,” Morrison said.

The jeep enthusiasts’ group is dedicated to doing good work in the community, Morrison said. So the couple went to Shaw’s supermarket on Kennedy Memorial Drive on Thursday night and started collecting donations to take food to the officers searching for Williams.

“My wife and I were talking about it on my lunch break,” Morrison said. “By 5:30 p.m. we were there collecting food and cash donations. It was a significant turnout.”

All told, they raised about $1,200 to buy food, which turned out to be around five carloads.

They are among many people and groups in the region who have been delivering items to some 200 law enforcement officials who have been working in 12-hour shifts on the manhunt for Williams since Wednesday.

Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said Friday afternoon that the assistance has been so overwhelming that the command center at the Norridgewock Fire Department has “run out of space” to store the donations. People should now call ahead before bringing anything else, he advised.

“We appreciate the support and it’s just an example of how much the community supports us,” he said.

Colin Ellis can be contacted at 861-9253 or at:

cellis@centralmaine.com

Twitter: colinoellis

Copy the Story Link