When Albert Bushala was pulled over for a “rolling stop” a few days before Christmas, he said he did not expect that the ensuing interaction with an officer would prompt him to want to make a donation to the Fullerton Police Department.

But it did, an early Christmas gift for the station.

Officer Matthew Levin approached Bushala’s car and calmly explained the driver had failed to make a complete stop at a stop sign—a mistake that Bushala said he hadn’t realized. Levin took time to educate him about traffic safety and how to be a more mindful driver, Bushala said.

Then, instead of writing up a ticket, Levin handed him a $10 gift card to Better Buzz Coffee Roasters.

Bushala, 65, said he was so moved by Levin’s generosity that he and his family delivered a $10,000 check and homemade cookies to the Fullerton police station on Christmas Eve.

“The decision to make the donation came simply from a place of gratitude,” said Bushala, who owns a real estate company in Fullerton. “The police have a hard job, and despite that, Officer Levin treated me with compassion and understanding.”

Bushala said his encounter with Levin has already made him a more cautious driver, and he isn’t sure a fine would have had the same effect.

“That simple act of explaining made me want to prove that he made the right decision by trusting me that day by letting me off with a warning,” Bushala said. “His kindness reminded me that respect works both ways.”

In December, Fullerton police surprised unsuspecting drivers by handing out gift cards instead of citations during some traffic stops. The effort is part of an annual community engagement program the department hosts during the holidays with money from the Fullerton Police and Community Foundation.

Officers last year delivered a total of 200 Better Buzz Coffee gift cards funded by a $2,000 donation from a local resident.

Levin, who handed out five gift cards, said he was shocked and gratified by Bushala’s repayment of what he considered to be just a “small gesture” of compassion. He said he hopes Bushala’s story can show other drivers that being pulled over doesn’t have to be a stressful experience.

“A traffic stop can be an educational opportunity for safer driving,” Levin said.

Chief Jon Radus said the department is incredibly moved by Bushala’s generosity and will be putting the donation toward the foundation.

The money could fund many community causes, he said, including replacing a child’s stolen bike or covering rent for officers displaced by wildfire. It could also help extend the holiday gift card program from a seasonal initiative into a year-round one, Radus said.

“It’s a really good example of somebody taking an act of kindness and paying it forward, beyond tenfold,” Radus said. “It’s giving us the ability to spread kindness to so many more people in the coming years.”

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