HAZEL DELL — To Woody Woodworth, a bicycle is more than a way of getting around. It’s a tool he uses to give back to the community, and help watch over it.
On Sunday evening, Woodworth was given a new custom-fit bike, a jacket, a bike helmet and bright LED lights — and many Christmas well wishes — from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies wanted to make the holidays cheerier for someone in need, and quickly thought of Woodworth, a local fixture.
“Oh, wow. Cool,” the 64-year-old Hazel Dell resident said as a deputy surprised him with the bike inside the Fire District 6 station on Hazel Dell Avenue. A group of deputies watched as Woodworth wiped away tears.
“I’m sorry,” he told them, adding that he was touched.
“Merry Christmas, Woody,” several of the deputies replied.
For those who don’t know him, Woodworth is like a neighborhood watch on wheels.
The retired man spends his nights on his bike, visiting local businesses, playing his harmonica for people, and picking up litter along Highway 99 and other roadways. He’s clocked a lot of mileage and needed a new bicycle, deputies said.
“Most folks don’t give Woody a second look, but for patrol deputies, making a connection with and cultivating a relationship of trust with those that frequent or reside in your patrol area is just good, old-fashioned police work,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a recent Facebook post about Woodworth.
After receiving his gifts Sunday, Woodworth told deputies about someone who has been dumping bags of garbage near the 78th Street onramp to Interstate 5. He covers a lot of ground while picking up litter — from Northeast Andresen Road to Hazel Dell Avenue, and as far south as Fourth Plain Boulevard — and he often gives police a heads-up when something seems amiss.
“I watch everything,” he said. “This is my community, and I don’t like it messed up.”
Deputies aren’t the only ones who have noticed Woodworth’s generosity.
The office’s Facebook post received an outpouring of comments from the community, many telling stories of how Woodworth’s kindness brightened their day. One woman said he gave flowers to her daughters. Another woman said he played his harmonica for her when she worked at WinCo, and that he was always “so happy.” A coffee shop worker said Woodworth often helps her and her co-workers close up shop. Others people pointed out his musical talent.
Deputies Lindsey Schultz and Rick Osborne organized the surprise for Woodworth, asking for donations from other deputies in the West Precinct.
The 21-speed bike from Vancouver Cyclery, worth about $550, also came with about $200 in accessories, including a basket and puncture-resistant tires.
After taking the bike for a spin outside, Woodworth gave Schultz a big hug.
“You guys are awesome,” he told the group.
Decked out in his new gear, he planned to bike home.
