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. NC police save blind 62-year-old man before ice storm
WADESBORO, N.C. — Officers with the Wadesboro police department located and rescued a 62-year-old blind man who was lost in the woods in frigid temperatures.
The Anson Record reports a pair of officers split up to find the man January 21 after the man’s wife called police to inform them he had not arrived home after leaving for a walk with a friend several hours prior.
With temperatures dropping and a winter storm incoming, it was a race against time to find the man.
Officer Alex Sherwood located the man trapped in dense brush.
“He was saying, ‘Thank God, thank God,’ and just praising Jesus,” Sherwood told the publication. “I imagine that he’d been praying the whole time he’d been out there and felt his prayers were answered when he was found.”
The man was reportedly next to a large pond and ravine, and would have been difficult to find if he had gone over.
Chief Thedis Spencer piled on the praise for the two officers involved in the rescue.
“I want to commend the actions of Officer Alex Sherwood and Officer Thomas Luckey, and for acting swiftly and diligently in finding the missing blind man,” Spencer told the Anson Record. “As officers, we don’t always know if our actions help save lives; sometimes it is obvious, sometimes it is subtler. However, on this night, it is clearly evident that this man’s life was likely saved, and a terrible tragedy and loss to a family was avoided.”
2. Ecuador officers rescue sloth trapped on busy road
LOS RIOS — A sloth attempting to cross the road was rescued by Ecuadorian Transit Commission Officers, KTLA reported.
The officers stopped to help the small animal when they noticed it was struggling to make it across the road.
Veterinarians examined the sloth and determined it was in good condition.
Officers posted pictures of the incident on Facebook which garnered over 44,000 likes.
3. Utah cop en route to funeral stops to save elderly couple from house fire
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Body camera captured the dramatic rescue of two elderly residents from their home by an officer on his way to another officer’s funeral, KUTV reported.
The house was 40 percent engulfed in flames when Officer Brandon Sulich arrived.
“I could see there were flames coming out of the top; it looked like portions of the roof had already collapsed,” Sulich told the news site.
The couple inside could not get out own their own.
Sgt. Trudy Cropper and Officer Scott Folkers arrived moments later to help Sulich carry the elderly couple up the stairs. They made it out with minor injuries.
Officers were appreciative Sulich was there to help.
“I was touched that he had on his full Class A - Police Uniform, he was on his way to the funeral, he wasn’t dispatched to be there — but he stopped to help these people,” Cropper said to KUTV.
Sulich told the news site he arrived to the funeral on time.
4. Shaq surprises Fla. officer, kids with pickup basketball game
MIAMI — A police officer who gained viral fame for playing basketball with some kids who were the subject of a noise complaint brought a little backup with him during a rematch.
According to the Miami Herald, Shaquille O’Neal surprised Officer Bobby White at his department after White’s impromptu basketball game with a group of neighborhood kids inspired the NBA legend.
“Officer Bobby White AKA ‘The Basketball Cop” made good on his promise to come back for a street basketball rematch,” the department posted on Facebook. “He brought a little backup, too. Shaq was in the house.”
Shaq, a group of officers, and the local children played a pickup game that was captured on video and posted online.
5. DC police cruise snowy streets blasting ‘Frozen’ songs
WASHINGTON — D.C. police had a little fun during the blizzard this past weekend, ABC News reported.
Witnesses caught officers in patrol vehicles blasting “Do you want to build a snowman?” from the movie “Frozen.”
D.C. received more than a foot and a half of snow throughout the storm.
Officers were dispatched to several service calls as well, helping stranded motorists throughout the area.