COVINGTON, Ga. — Officers and support staff from the Covington Police Department, along with Newton County School System central office administrators and even one school board member, helped kindergarten through second grade students at Newton County Theme School celebrate their Polar Express Day on Dec. 18.

The students were dressed in their best pajamas to celebrate but little did they know they had a surprise waiting for them outside — the Covington Police Department's finest men and women in blue had set up outside to surprise them with their second annual Operation Candy Cane! 

The CPD was set up outside ready and waiting with candy canes galore to greet the children! Once the students got their candy canes, they had the opportunity to board Covington's own South Pole Express trolley and take a class picture! 

After all of the students headed back to class the officers did a hall walk and surprised other classes and handed out candy canes to unsuspecting students! They even made an appearance in the cafeteria at lunch time to say hello to all the boys and girls. 

The CPD dedicated this year’s event in memory of retired assistant chief of police, Almond Turner, who also had served as a school board member for more than 20 years.