The "Pops For Cops" Guy

Robert G. Kramer, GWRRA #152556, of Fairfield, Ohio, has become the "Pops for Cops" guy in the city where he has lived for 17 years. Currently a professional motivational speaker, Mr. Kramer met his goal of retiring from his retail business at age 50 two years ago. Bob has used his free time to become more active in the community. After graduating from the ten-week Fairfield Citizen Police Academy in May last year, he gained more respect for officers, and wanted to show it. He noticed that officers were often stuck for hours in the hot sun, directing traffic around car wrecks or other hazards. The avid motorcyclist realized he could use his Gold Wing as a delivery vehicle and "Pops for Cops" was born in July.

Kramer "responds" to police calls on his pearl-blue Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, and has delivered refreshments to nearly 100 different scenes. The beverages are courtesy of a local Pepsi Cola distributor. When an executive from Frito-Lay corporation got wind of the program from local media attention, he called Bob and has been providing snacks ever since. Kramer said, "I started this program in July and received great support for it, and this was pre-9-11 back when honoring or thanking our safety personnel was still uncommon."
Kramer says he has learned to use discretion deciding when and where to respond. He avoids situations that might be dangerous for him or officers and hangs back if officers seem extremely busy. His refreshments are most welcome at scenes where officers must stay for long periods. Bob says the program makes him feel good, and gives him an excuse to tell his wife why he’s riding his motorcycle all hours of the night.
In cooler months, he provides "caffeine for cops", as the Kroger-Fred Meyer company offered to provide a supply of their top line Private Selections coffee. Yet even in cold weather, cold drinks can be welcome. Case in point was a recent ride to support local firefighters. "The City of Fairfield had a major structure fire during the night recently, and I had to go home and reload my cooler twice. It’s scary when firefighters do not have enough water to drink!"
Kramer says, "I hope by sharing my story, GWRRA will be able to put a mark on the world and leave a legacy by being instrumental in growing this little seed from Fairfield, Ohio, into an international movement. Wouldn't’t it be really cool if whenever a cop saw a Wing anywhere in the world, they’d know there was a chance of getting at least a thank you and maybe even a snack and a drink to go with it?"