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. Idaho officer caught helping homeless man
POCATELLO, Idaho — Officer Jordan Johnson was unknowingly caught on camera helping a homeless man, KPVI reported.
When it was only three degrees outside on Nov. 30, bystanders took notice of a homeless man with only a sleeping bag to keep himself warm. They informed a nearby officer of the situation.
“He was sleeping in a sleeping bag, that’s all he had, and it wasn’t a good sleeping bag,” Matthew Tsakrios told the news site.
Jordan ended up bringing the man some hot food. He didn’t know he was being recorded by Tsakrios.
“It was more of a person to person moment. It felt like the right thing to do,” Jordan said to the news site.
Jordan is a nine-year veteran of the force.
2. Mo. officer helps one homeless man, impacts thousands with kind gesture
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — When Officer Nick Basinger helped a homeless man five months ago, he never thought he’d see him again, but then he received a text.
At their initial meeting, Basinger bought the man groceries, gave him resources to get back home, then prayed with the man, KMOV reported.
On Nov. 21, more than five months after their initial meeting, Basinger received a text from the man.
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The man thanked the officer for not belittling him.
“If you can reach a hand out to anyone, no matter how small it is, do it. That’s why we are on this Earth, that’s why we are all here,” Basinger said in the text.
The post has over a thousand shares on Facebook.
3. Fla. officer helps woman who ran out of gas
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Officer Gonzales is being recognized for helping a woman who had run out of gas.
The officer helped push the woman’s vehicle out of traffic on Nov. 23, Jacksonville Sun Times reported.
Upon discovering that the woman had money for gas, the officer handed her a few dollars to help out.
4. Calif. police rescue woman from suicide attempt on bridge
PASADENA, Calif. — Officer Baffigo and Armendariz grabbed a woman as she attempted to jump off a bridge, MyNewsLA reported.
Police received a call from a distressed man who told them his daughter, who is in her 20s, was depressed and needed help. Officers were able to locate the woman and spent more than two hours attempting to coax her down off a bridge.
The woman was holding onto the bridge’s column when she suddenly let go and began to fall. The officer grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to safety.
The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment.
5. CHP helps wandering pig find its way home
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. — An officer helped a lost pig find its way home, The Press Democrat reported.
California Highway Patrol Officer Ken Engers found the large swine after drivers reported it wandering near the highway.
Engers gave the pig to Sonoma County Animal Control officers for safekeeping. The owner eventually contacted animal control and retrieved the animal.
A photo of the officer and the pig was posted on Facebook and garnered over 500 likes.