Fredonia Police Officer Brittany Lancaster has brought a tradition full circle, by appearing in this year’s photo promoting the annual Fredonia Police Benevolent Association picnic.

The picture always depicts a Fredonia police officer selling the first ticket for the fundraising event to the village mayor. Brittany Lancaster’s grandfather, Officer Robert Lancaster, was in the photo for the picnic’s predecessor, a formal ball, back in 1957.

Robert Lancaster handed the ticket to Mayor Russell Joy, who still has a well-known name — the village’s largest park is named after him.

According to Fredonia Police Officer Michael Hodkin, who is assisting Brittany Lancaster in preparation for the picnic, “Brittany adored her grandfather and was influenced by him and chose law enforcement as her career path. Robert served for 30 years and retired in 1981. Robert passed in 2018.”

Brittany Lancaster graduated from police academy in 2021 and is a full-time officer for Fredonia. She is the chairperson of this year’s PBA picnic, set for July 20 at the Fredonia Beaver Club.