You’ve heard the rumors, and you’ve probably seen the stories; but did you know that our very own Pct 3 Constable Steven Hill is famous in a small town for all the right reasons.
Now known as the ‘Hot Wheels Cop,’ Hill has accumulated more than a few hundred Hot Wheels over the last few months after word got out that his stock had run dry.
“It really started with my family. One day I was cleaning one of my kids’ rooms and found some old Hot Wheels. My wife said I couldn’t give those old toys away, so on her own back, she went out and purchased my first group of Hot Wheels by using her birthday and Christmas money to help me get this idea kicked,” Hill said.
From there, Hill and his wife along with the odd friend or two began collecting the cars, so he always had on him for when he met a spritely young child.
Well, just a few months back word got out after an article blew through social media of a local constable in need of some Hot Wheels cars.
“Since then I have had people call me, stop me in the streets and help me build a good amount of Hot Wheels for myself and other law enforcement I share them with,” he explained.
Most recently, Hill has been fortunate to receive large amounts of Hot Wheels from local businesses which he says reached out to him and collected the toys so he would not have to worry about a child missing the opportunity to receive a toy from positive interaction with a police officer.
Not only have businesses like North East Texas Jeepers and Walmart come on board to keep Hill stocked up; but children within the county as well.
“While I was driving at the July 4th parade, a lady had called out for me to pull up. Next thing I knew there were a couple of small kids that ran out to the car and started handing me Hot Wheels cars to give to other kids,” Hill explained, “I just remember taking those cars, and they filled up the passenger seat before I knew it.”
This is just one fantastic example of what HIll has come to see in the months following the news spreading around the county.
“A few months back, Mattel, the company that makes Hot Wheels reached out to me and sent me some 200 cars. That meant a lot, I’m still not sure how they found out, but to be able to continue to give kids a positive interaction with police officers is very important to me,” Hill said.
Having helped evolve from the stickers he uses to hand out to now being able to give these kids something they can interact with while letting their imagination run free; is truly the gift of kindness that continues to be seen here in Lamar County with our very own ‘Hot Wheels Cop.’
