By Police1 Staff
From small gestures of kindness to incredible acts of heroism, police officers help their communities every day. Our monthly news roundup, The Up-Beat, aims to bring greater attention to these inspiring stories.
This month, we highlight officers who fixed a neighbor’s roof on their own time, one officer’s commitment to a dementia call, and more stories of cops lending a hand. Do you have an uplifting story to share? Email editor@police1.com or complete the box below.
1. Hero of the month: Officer David Kaufman
A Colorado police officer was praised for his patience and compassionate response to a woman with dementia. The woman’s husband had called police to help find her after she wandered off. But when Officer David Kaufman approached the woman, June, she refused his help. Instead, Kaufman walked and talked with June for “quite a long time” until she got tired and accepted a ride home.
For Kaufman, this was personal.
“I have an 81-year-old father who suffers from dementia and I’m aware of what could be happening at any moment and how tenuous it is,” Kaufman said. “It was definitely personal to me to get that person back to her husband.” Great work, Officer! Full story
2. cops fix roof for elderly couple scammed by contractor
A patrol squad in Maryland took matters into their own hands after an elderly couple on their beat lost $33,000. Full story
When an elderly couple reported to police that they had been scammed out of $33,000 for a roof job, the patrol squad that covers their Ellicott City neighborhood (w/ help from a neighborly roofing expert) decided to trade their duty belts for tool belts & fix the roof themselves. pic.twitter.com/K9QZXdPujC
— Howard County Police Department (@HCPDNews) May 28, 2021
3. NYPD detectives gift Disney World trip to girl who witnessed family’s murder
A 9-year-old girl witnessed the unimaginable. And while nothing can erase that horror, the detectives who worked the case went above and beyond to make her world a little brighter. Full story
Detectives John Bartek, Erick Parks and Jean Louis of the Brooklyn North Homicide Squad along with Detectives Trevor White and Rene Orrego of the 73 precinct and Det. Felicia Richards of PSA #2 were all honored and helped with the fundraising drive. https://t.co/dxD3uFnd8y
— Detectives’ Endowment Association (@NYCPDDEA) June 16, 2021
4. Watch: Arizona officers get elderly man home safe, help put away his groceries
A concerned citizen called police regarding an elderly man who was sitting in his car in the scorching heat. Responding officers went above and beyond the call of duty to help him out. Full story
5. Watch: Quick-thinking rookie cop saves choking infant
“Anytime I deal with something that involves a child, I think about how the parents would want me to treat the child as if it was mine,” said 23-year-old Officer Cody Hubbard. Full story