Operation scooter
<p>Sergeant Brett Walton surprises Viva Carr with a new scooter at her home in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday evening. Sergeant Walton purchased the scooter to replace a similar one that was stolen from her front yard at the end of July.</p>
<p>Viva Carr, 7, of Coeur d’Alene waits for a surprise from Sergeant Brett Walton, who decided to replace Viva’s pink Razor scooter that was stolen from her front yard at the end of July. Sergeant Walton decided to replace the scooter after reading Viva’s letter in the Coeur d’Alene Press.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Viva Carr is one happy second-grader.
And it's all because of Coeur d'Alene Police Department Sgt. Brett Walton.
In July, the little girl's scooter was stolen from her front yard. At the suggestion of her dad, Geoff, the 7-year-old wrote a letter to the editor, which was published in The Press on Aug. 6.
"Dear Press, I would like to report a stolen scooter," the letter said. "It was in my front yard one day gone the next. It was given to me on my birthday. If you took it please return it."
Shortly after the letter was printed, Walton jumped into action and "Operation Scooter" was underway. While working with The Press to get a new scooter to Viva, Walton was hesitant to have the story reported because he said he feared his intent would be distorted.
"I'm not looking for accolades for this," Walton said. "This is just the right thing to do. Too many incidents like this are what kids remember.
They should recall the good times and the joys of being a kid."
Walton purchased a brand new pink scooter for Viva and the officer paid a visit to her family's home at the beginning of his shift Wednesday evening.
When Walton told the young girl why he was there, her eyes lit up.
"My wife approved of it and she loves pink," Walton told the girl.
"Me too," Viva excitedly replied.
The child held her hands over her eyes while Walton went to his patrol car to get the scooter.
"No peeking," Walton said.
"I was just getting them tighter," Viva responded, while trying to sneak a glance at the scooter.
When she was allowed to open her eyes, the little girl jumped up and down, then ran for the new scooter.
"I love it," she said. "I didn't have anything to ride with my friends and this one is even better. Thank you."
"It's so sweet. It's like something you would see in the Andy Griffith Show with that personal touch and small-town feel," Mollie, Viva's mom, added. "It made her month. She'll probably still be talking about it at Christmas."