The other day I was working a basketball game for a local University. I was patrolling one of the concourses when a couple approached me and asked me if I would be willing to do something for them. I asked them how I could be of service and they showed me a little T-shirt.
"There's this little boy in our section and he's in a wheel chair. He looks pretty disabled and he's here with just his mom. We thought it would be cool if you presented him with this T-shirt on behalf of the school."
I asked the couple how they knew the boy and his mother and they exclaimed that they didn't know them at all and wanted me to give him the T-shirt so their gift would be anonymous. I was touched. I agreed and we walked together toward their section in the stands. As we got closer I told another officer what we were about to do. He pulled out a "junior police officer" sticker and handed it to me.
"Deputize him while your at it!" he said.
When we arrived at the couple's section, they quickly made their way back to their seats and watched from above. The other officer and I made our way to the little boy in the wheel chair and his mother. When we arrived I introduced us and addressed the boy,
"The university would like to thank you for coming to support the team and would like to give you this special T-shirt. We would also like to make you a junior police officer today."
I handed his mother the badge and she placed it on her son's chest. Her eyes welled up with tears and she thanked us for doing what we did. As I walked away I glanced up at the couple who had given me and this little family this wonderful gift. I waved and they tearfully smiled back at me.
Earlier that day I had been feeling pretty dark about the state of the world. I was wondering if there really were any decent people left in the world. Then this happened. My faith in humanity was restored. I never got a chance to thank the couple after the game for their wonderful act of anonymous kindness. I never got to thank them for giving me the opportunity to be the face of their simple act of kindness. I have no doubt that this will have positive after effects for our department. Where ever you are, thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this wonderful thing. You made me and my department look heroic that day. You guys are the real heroes and I will always remember what you did.
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9 comments:
There ARE good people out there. They are all around you. But unfortunately, in your line of work, you deal mostly with the other kind. I'm glad you had the honors of doing that. :)
I love things like that! So cool, it gave me shivers reading it. I know what you mean, I too lose hope considering the people I deal with. Just FYI, I'm an investigator in Internal Affairs, so I deal with people complaining EVERY day! Something like this really renews your faith in humanity.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful little act of kindness HF!
Aw, that is such a heart-warming story! I'm so glad that you were able to make a difference for that little boy. I know that my husband, like you, often doubts if there is any good left out there after seeing all the crap he sees. These reminders are few and far between but so worth it!
This is the second time today I have heard something positive involving LEO's and it is awesome!There are lots of good people out there unfortunately evil seems to overshadow them.
Thank you
Just keep remembering.....there are lots of good people out there....more than there are bad people. You cops just don't get to deal with the good ones very much. Thanks for what you do
Thanks for sharing HF. Retelling of these types of stories in the media is in short supply.
What a wonderful story. It's the little acts of kindness that truly define who we are as a society; I just wish we could remember that more. So, thanks for sharing this to remind us that it's the little things that sometimes make the most impact on our lives. What a positive experience to remember!
Like damsel suggested, I think this type of people is in ready supply in our world. In fact, I believe they are probably the majority. We just spend most of our time with the other 20%.
What a great post! My hubby is also in law enforcement (he's a sheriff's deputy), and there aren't enough hours in the day for me to list the ways he makes a positive impact on the community... an impact which all too often goes overlooked! Thanks for the work that you do to keep us all safe on the other side of that thin blue line.
~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom
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