Blue Lights, Brighter Hope: ‘Let Hope In’ Turns Traffic Stops Into Gifts
The familiar flash of blue lights usually signals a problem on the road, But during this year’s “Let Hope In” initiative, those lights carried a different meaning
GLASGOW, Ky. (WNKY) – The familiar flash of blue lights usually signals a problem on the road. But during this year’s “Let Hope In” initiative, in its 9th year, those lights carried a different meaning as Glasgow police officers pulled drivers over to hand them $100 bills instead of tickets.
Drivers approached the roadside expecting citations, only to be met with reassurance.
“Y’all ain’t in no trouble, I promise,” one officer told a family as they stepped out of their vehicle.
The outreach pairs the Glasgow Police Department with volunteers from River Lake Church, who waited nearby to meet each driver and offer support. After brief conversations about minor infractions, officers delivered the unexpected news.
“We’re giving you $100,” one officer told a stunned driver.
For some, the timing couldn’t have been more meaningful. One man, who said he works long shifts and recently spent “almost $5,000” repairing his truck, struggled to hold back emotion after receiving the surprise.
“God is good. Let me tell you… Thank you, you guys,” he said.
Officer Matthew “Ski” Rishkofski said the emotional shift happened immediately at each stop.
“They went from fearing that they’re getting a ticket… to where they did something wrong to… they got a gift,” he said.
He added, “Something small can turn somebody’s day around, because we don’t know what they’re going through.”
Volunteers saw that impact just as clearly.
“I saw kind people… and I saw great feelings of relief when they found out who we were and why we were there,” said Ron Reeves, who helped distribute the gifts.
Reeves said the effort is rooted in a simple belief:
“We forget to let hope in. And what we forget even more is to give hope to other people.”
Another volunteer, Joshua Riggs, said he witnessed how much the moment meant to those stopped.
“I firsthand got to witness some citizens… that needed some hope,” he said. “And I was blessed enough to… help give them that.”
By the end of the night, no citations were written. Instead, officers handed out envelopes, church members offered encouragement, and drivers pulled away with unexpected relief.
And for at least a few motorists, the blue lights that usually signal trouble shone a little differently, as small, bright reminders that hope can appear in the most ordinary places.
