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 and send us your stories of cops being everyday heroes.
1. NC cop praised for feeding homeless
CONCORD, N.C. — Concord Police Officer Eschert was caught in the act of being kind, Independent Tribune reported.
Eschert surprised a citizen who witnessed the officer get out of his patrol vehicle and hand McDonald’s meals to two homeless men sitting on a bench. The citizen, Tha Larkin, snapped a picture of the officer and posted it on the Tribune’s Facebook page.
“I assumed he would be telling them they had to get up and leave,” Larkin wrote. “The policeman gave them each a drink and served them their food from the bag he had.”
Larkin told the officer what he did was a blessing.
The Tribune published the photo and gave a shout out to “good guy” Officer Eschert.
2. Calif. cops revive man dead for 9 minutes
RICHMOND, Calif. — Two Richmond police officers used CPR to revive a man who lacked a pulse for almost ten minutes, the Richmond Standard reported.
“If it weren’t for the two RPD officers’ actions, the outcome of this incident would have been much worse,” Lt. Felix Tan told the publication.
The Oct. 26 incident occurred when a neighbor found the victim lying unconscious on the sidewalk.
Officers Brandon Hodges and Lane Matsui responded and gave the victim CPR.
“The officers continued their lifesaving efforts for several minutes until the ambulance arrived,” Tan told the news site. “Because of the officers’ immediate assessment and actions, the male regained a pulse and breathed, after 9 minutes without a pulse or a breath.”
The man was last in stable condition at the hospital. An investigation is ongoing.
3. Texas cops buy car seats for family instead of writing tickets
CEDAR PARK, Texas — Cedar Park Officer Justin Gower was surprised to see three young girls not in carseats during a traffic stop, Today News reported.
But instead of issuing a ticket to their father, Gower and another officer decided to help by buying the family car seats for the girls aged 1, 3 and 4.
The officers spent $145 of their own money for the seats, according to a post on their department’s Facebook page.
“It was nothing short of a miracle,” the unidentified man reportedly said.
The man and his family have been going through hard times - having previously been living in the car and now currently living in a hotel. Knowing the man’s situation, the officers decided to help.
“They’re trying to get things going, they’re going in the right direction, and to issue them three citations for each child would just devastate them,” Gower told Today.
The department posted about the situation on Facebook and added that police everywhere do things like this everyday.
The post has over 4,000 likes.
4. Wis. officers walk elderly man back home
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — Officer Hakes and Checkalski were called to assist a 64-year-old group home resident after he walked away from the premises, according to the department’s Facebook post.
When the man refused a ride from officers, they convinced him to let them walk him home instead. The officers walked over a mile and a half with the man, taking several breaks along the way.
The department praised the officers for their actions that went above and beyond the call of duty.
“Because of their efforts, this man was returned home safely, without incident,” the department wrote. “Excellent work officers, showing compassion and commitment as members of the Chippewa Falls Police Department.”
5. Ga. officers save man’s life after chainsaw accident
ROME, Ga. — Two Rome police officers are being praised for saving a man’s life after a chainsaw nearly cut off his leg, FOX 5 reported.
The Oct. 25 incident occurred when the man was tree-trimming. A chainsaw accidentally hit his leg.
“Honestly, when I saw the subject, I thought he was deceased,” responding Officer Rick Robinson said to the publication.
Robinson had an emergency tourniquet in his patrol vehicle, but it fell beneath a seat and was unretrievable. Officer Andy Rast arrived shortly after Robinson and the two created an improvised tourniquet using a stick and a sweater.
Paramedics arrived and took the man to the hospital. A fire department official told the publication if the officers were not quick-thinking, the man could have died.
“Not only did they recognize there was a problem, but he knew what to do and did it correctly,” Captain Grant Collier told the news site.
Officers then visited the man at the hospital. Due to the severity of damage to the leg, doctors were unable to save it. Officers reported the man to be in good spirits, despite losing his limb.