A Small Gesture, A Big Impact: How a Blaine Car Wash Employee Built an Unseen Tribute to Local Officers

BLAINE, Minn. - December 2025.
At the Blaine Police Department, reminders of community support often arrive during major events, planned outreach programs, or formal recognition ceremonies. But this fall, one of the most meaningful reminders of all came quietly from across the street — inside a small office at a Holiday gas station car wash.

For years, Blaine police officers have stopped at the Holiday station near department headquarters to wash their squad cars, a routine part of daily patrol. Those brief visits led to countless interactions with Raymond, a longtime staff member whose steady positivity and pride in his work have made him a familiar and well-loved figure among officers.

Raymond’s upbeat conversations, his interest in the officers’ work, and the simple kindness he shows during each encounter have, over time, built a genuine connection. Many officers say he has brightened difficult shifts without ever realizing it.

An Outreach Coin — and a Hidden Wall of Appreciation

This fall, Police Chief Brian Podany decided to formally recognize that impact. He presented Raymond with a Blaine Police Department Outreach Challenge Coin — a token awarded sparingly to honor individuals who strengthen the city’s culture of respect, partnership, and community service.

The gesture meant a great deal to Raymond. But what happened next surprised even the Chief.

During a later visit, Raymond asked Chief Podany whether he had ever seen the small office behind the car wash. When he shared a photo, it revealed a full wall covered with BPD memorabilia: business cards, photographs, news clippings, thank-you notes, and small department emblems. Each item had been collected over time.

What emerged was an unpublicized, deeply personal tribute — a collage assembled not for recognition, but out of quiet admiration for the officers Raymond sees every day. For Chief Podany and others in the department, the display was an emotional reminder that the impact of their work often reaches further than they realize.

“The sincerity of it was overwhelming,” Chief Podany shared later in the department’s internal newsletter, where he wrote about the encounter. He later framed the story as a gift for Raymond — an act captured in a lighthearted selfie he took during the presentation.

A Reflection of Community Policing in Everyday Life

The significance of Raymond’s tribute extends beyond a single wall of mementos. It illustrates what community policing looks like in its most authentic form: relationships built not only through large initiatives, but through hundreds of small moments — a conversation, a smile, a gesture that acknowledges shared humanity.

Blaine has made community partnership a cornerstone of its policing model, with programs ranging from Coffee with a Cop to the “Best of Blaine” Community Spotlight, which recognizes residents who strengthen the city’s civic fabric. Yet the story unfolding at the car wash shows that some of the most powerful connections arise organically, without planning or fanfare.

As Blaine enters the holiday season, Raymond’s story has resonated within the department as a reminder of why officers serve. It has also become a symbol of the quiet, enduring bond between those who wear the uniform and the residents they encounter each day.

“This month, we extend our deepest gratitude to Raymond and to all community members who support and uplift those around them,” the department wrote in its December release. “Your kindness strengthens the bond we share and inspires us to continue serving with compassion, respect, and pride.”

Nominate a Community Member

The Blaine Police Department is inviting residents to share stories of others who make a positive impact — whether through service, generosity, or everyday acts of kindness.

Nominations for BPD’s Community Spotlight can be submitted at:
https://www.blainemn.gov/3885/Community-Spotlight

MinneapoliMedia