Dispatchers, police officer replace stolen Thanksgiving dinner

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A Connecticut mayor praised 911 dispatchers and a police officer who worked to replace the Thanksgiving dinner stolen from a man while he was walking home.

Jimmy Mulligan of Bridgeport said he was walking home in the evening on Thanksgiving when two masked men took his turkey, trimmings and wallet, WFSB-TV, Bridgeport, reported Tuesday.

"[They] held a gun to my back and told me to let go of the turkey," Mulligan said.

Mulligan said the wallet held $97 and one irreplaceable item.

"It unfortunately had a prayer card from my mother's funeral service back in December," Mulligan said.

Denny Viera, the 911 operator who answered Mulligan's call, said she wanted to help the man.

Viera and her colleagues pooled together $25 and were able to order food from Boston Market for Mulligan and his dinner guest.

Officer Daniel Mendez delivered the food.

"When he gave them the meals, Danny said they were the happiest guys on earth," Viera said.

"I can't say enough about the compassion and empathy shown by the men and woman who work in the 911 center," said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. "It's a difficult job. When they answer the phone, usually they are speaking to someone in crisis. Denny did her job well, got police to the scene and then thought, 'I want to do more.' She and her colleagues rallied around this man and brightened his Thanksgiving."