A holiday surprise in Marion County -- where police in Ocala are not just pulling people over for tickets.

  • Operation Secret Santa in Ocala
  • Police gave out $4,200 to random residents
  • Tried to find residents who appeared to need the money

Ocala Police Officer Roger Wissinger and Officer Alyssa Garcia teamed up for a day to give residents a gift that also resulted in some teary eyes and lots of hugs.

​Called Operation Secret Santa, four officers in three days gave out $100 during traffic stops and in parking lots, like the parking lot of the hospital where they found Jennifer Lane and her husband.

Lane says they live paycheck to paycheck.

"I couldn’t believe it, but now my daughter can have a good Christmas this year," Lane said.

Officers looked for those in need, like Jacqueline Torres, who was coming out of the Dollar General.  Officer Garcia gave her another $100 when she heard Torres has a big family to take care of.

"Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart," Torres said through tears.

Officer Garcia and Officer Wissinger says this is why they became officers in the first place.

"Going out and being kind to people and serving and helping them, that’s what police work is all about," Wissinger said.

Ocala Police handed out $4,200. They say they had 14 anonymous donors and that the police chief himself raised over half the money with his friends. ​​​