Massachusetts Police Officer Gets Chased by Turkey While Buying Bread in Freetown

Most police officers expect a variety of challenges during their shifts. Chasing suspects, directing traffic and responding to emergencies all come with the badge. Being chased by a turkey while trying to buy fresh bread, however, is probably not listed in the training manual.

That was the reality for Freetown Police Officer Nick Mancuso during what should have been a quick stop at Willette Farm. Mancuso had pulled over to support the local farm stand and pick up two loaves of regular sourdough bread when he unknowingly crossed paths with Ross, the farm's free-roaming turkey.

The hilarious encounter was captured on camera and the farm jokingly apologized to the officer for being "harassed" by Ross, explaining that the turkey had gone missing and was later discovered patrolling the farm stand and apparently keeping a close eye on customers.

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A Repeat Offender

I had some fun with this and asked the question: if Ross were ever hauled into court, what the charge would be? Mancuso immediately answered. "Disorderly conduct for sure," he said with a laugh. "Ross chased my cruiser down the street and then held up traffic a few times in both directions."

As it turns out, this wasn't Mancuso's first run-in with a feathery troublemaker. During his time as a dispatcher with the Dartmouth Police Department, he remembers two resident turkeys that regularly terrorized vehicles in the station parking lot. "They would chase and peck at personal vehicles and cruisers in the back lot," he said. "They were a pretty aggressive duo."

Just Another Day on Patrol

While wild turkeys are a common sight around Freetown, Mancuso said Ross caught him completely by surprise. "While on patrol in Freetown, we constantly come across wild turkeys holding up traffic," he said. "They have not a care in the world crossing the street and take their sweet time."

Massachusetts Police Officer Gets Chased by Turkey While Buying Bread in Freetown

What made this encounter even better was that Mancuso had no idea Ross belonged to the farm. "I thought he was a wild turkey," he said. "I didn't want to run him over and didn't know where he went. That's why you see me roll down the window to hear where he was gobbling from."

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For Mancuso, the turkey encounter ranks near the top of memorable moments on the job. "Every day is a new experience in this profession," he said. "In a career field full of stressful situations, incidents the general public will never experience and long work days, it's always good to get a good laugh in. Ross provided just that."

Thankfully, Ross was eventually escorted home, the officer got his bread, and Freetown traffic was finally able to resume without interference from the self-appointed turkey patrol.