A 7-year-old boy in Ansonia, Connecticut, came up with a simple way to earn money for something he wanted for school: a new pair of sneakers. Landen set up a small stand outside his home, selling lemonade and cookies for $1 as he tried to save enough to buy the shoes himself. But his little business caught the attention of a local police officer, Joel Perez, who stopped by and learnt what the young boy was saving for. Rather than simply wishing him luck, Perez decided to do something about it. He left the stand and returned a few hours later with a pair of new Adidas sneakers, leaving Landen surprised and delighted.
Boy sells lemonade and cookies to buy new school shoes
Landen’s grandmother, Wendelyn Narvaez, shared photographs of the boy’s small business on social media. One picture showed him standing behind his backyard lemonade stand, holding a handwritten sign advertising “$1 lemonade/cookies”.The young boy was not simply selling refreshments for fun. He wanted to earn enough money to buy a new pair of blue sneakers for school. His effort to save for the shoes caught the attention of Officer Joel Perez, who was serving with the Ansonia Police Department.
Police officer returns hours later with Adidas sneakers
After stopping at Landen’s stand and learning about his goal, Perez asked the boy about his shoe size. He then left and returned a few hours later carrying a box containing a new pair of Adidas sneakers.Another photograph shared by Narvaez captured the moment, showing Perez crouching beside Landen while holding the shoebox. The boy, still holding the sign from his lemonade stand, appeared delighted by the unexpected gift.Narvaez shared the photographs to highlight the officer’s thoughtful gesture. The pictures subsequently attracted attention online, with people praising Perez for going out of his way to make the young boy happy.
Police chief praises Officer Joel Perez
The gesture also received appreciation from Ansonia Police Chief Wayne Williams. Commenting on Perez’s actions, Williams reportedly described him as the kind of officer the department wanted to recruit.The chief’s response highlighted the importance of community-oriented policing, in which officers build relationships with residents and support people beyond their routine law enforcement responsibilities.Perez also shared the experience on social media, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve his community. He addressed Landen directly, wishing him well and encouraging him to remember what a great child he was.
Who is Officer Joel Perez?
Perez was a relatively new member of the Ansonia Police Department when the incident took place in September 2022. Reports at the time said he had joined the department in March that year and previously served as a military police officer.His interaction with Landen became an example of how a small personal gesture can make a lasting impression on a community. The photographs shared by the boy’s grandmother brought attention to the encounter and the officer’s decision to turn a child’s attempt to earn money for school shoes into a memorable surprise.
