By Police1 Staff
Lending a helping hand is part of the job for officers of the law — but their daily good deeds rarely make headlines. With our new series, we aim to bring some much-deserved attention to the little things our officers do for our communities every day. Check out this week’s round-up of inspiring stories from around the country.
1. Miss. cop goes above and beyond for teen in need
(Covington PD Image)
COVINGTON, Miss. — A 13-year-old who missed the bus to school got much more than a lift when a Covington police officer arrived at his home.
Officer Bret Miller responded to a truancy call in early December and offered the teen a ride, according to The Times-Picayune.
As the pair headed to the teen’s high school, Officer Miller noticed the student’s pants were torn and tattered. The teen explained to Miller that they were the only pair he owned that were in accordance with the school’s dress code.
After the officer dropped the teen off, he bought two new pairs of pants out-of-pocket and returned to the school to deliver them.
The department’s police chief, Tim Lentz, praised the officer’s actions in a statement posted to Facebook.
“His simple act of kindness will have a positive impact on the life of a child. What more could a Chief ask?,” Lentz wrote.
2. Md. deputy saves stolen Christmas
(Facebook Image)
HARFORD COUNTY, Md. — A deputy with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office saved the day for a local resident that discovered her Christmas decorations and tree had been stolen.
According to a Facebook post published by the department, Deputy First Class Kalambihis learned 69-year-old Patricia Ruby’s collection of Christmas houses – 40 years in the making – had been taken along with her tree.
Kalambihis immediately sprang into action – purchasing one replacement miniature house himself and taking to social media to enlist the local community in donating replacements of the rest of the collection. Thanks to the deputy’s actions, Ruby’s collection was restored in its entirety.
3. Utah cops help struggling mom who shoplifted to feed family
OREM, Utah — The Orem Police Department banded together to aid a single mom in need after officers responded to a call of the woman shoplifting from a local store.
“This [theft] was totally different [from most cases]. It wasn’t blue tooth speakers, it wasn’t things that are luxuries...” he explained. “It was food to feed her family that she couldn’t afford otherwise,” Officer Jared Goulding told ABC 4.
After responding officers found the mother’s home virtually empty – without Christmas gifts for her kids or furniture inside the bare residence – the department launched a ‘sub-for-Santa’ donation program to aid the family in need.
The department has collected donations from the community, as well as their own contributions, and expects to deliver the gifts to the family in the coming weeks.
4. Minn. cops, firefighters pull suicidal teen from bridge
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Police officers and firefighters raced against time Monday to rescue a young teen dangling from a bridge.
According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, multiple officers responded to the scene to find a 15-year-old teen in crisis. As the officers attempted to talk the teen down, he slipped and shouted for help as he dangled from the bridge.
Officer Marshall Titus immediately ran over to rescue the teen.
“I don’t know how (Titus) held on as long as he did,” Sgt. Mary Brodt, the officer’s supervisor, told the publication. “He was basically supporting (the teen’s) whole body weight.”
As officers joined in, they felt themselves losing their grip on the teen. Four firefighters who were also on the scene joined in to help, and the group of first responders managed to lift the teen to safety.
The teen was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
5. Tenn. cops replace boy’s stolen Xbox
MEMPHIS — Police officers in Memphis went above and beyond for an 11-year-old boy who was the victim of theft.
According to WMC, police responding to a burglarized home got into the Christmas spirit after discovering the boy, Tontrevion Campbell, had his Xbox video game console stolen during a burglary of his home.
When Campbell displayed more concern for his mother than his missing Xbox, the responding officers were inspired to replace the boy’s device.
“Just to be able to alleviate some of his stress,” Officer Antonio Martin told the publication. “And actually help that family in this time, like Christmas, it really was an overwhelming feeling.”
Gamestop – where the officers purchased the Xbox – donated an additional controller for the boy after learning the reason why the officers were there to purchase the console.