Compassionate cops in the news

[Legion Troll]

A homeless mom of four, down on her luck, never saw this one coming.

While out on the street Tuesday asking for money, she noticed a Massachusetts state trooper driving toward her before he pulled over. Certain she was about to be cited for panhandling, she immediately offered to leave, authorities said.

Trooper Luke Bonin, however, had other plans.

She was holding a sign and asking for help from anyone who would pay attention. Trooper Bonin continued to drive on – directly to a local establishment, where he ordered two meals.

He returned to the woman, pulled up, and exited his cruiser.

Trooper Bonin told her, 'I’m not here to kick you out.' He then extended the two meals and told her to pick one.

Unbeknown to the two highway picnickers, a passerby snapped a photo as Bonin sat on his bumper, eating and talking with the woman.

The photo is making its rounds on social media, with commentators praising Bonin for exchanging the long arm of the law for outstretched hands of care and compassion.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/massachusetts-trooper-shares-meal-panhandling-homeless-mom-citing/story?id=39194501

 

[Legion Troll]

A police officer says he's on the job to serve his community. So he was surprised when one of his latest efforts to do so inspired people all over the country.

Third-shift patrol officer Jonathan McMichael assisted a deaf woman in getting groceries, after a taxi failed to show up on a busy Friday night.

McMichael says the woman uses a text-to-voice program through her TV set to call people, and called a cab service to take her to Walmart. But when it failed to show, she called 911.

"It's not every day you call 911 because someone won't take you to get some food," McMichael explained. "Obviously I think she was a little embarrassed, but you know, it doesn't matter. I mean, our job is to help folks."

McMichael was sent out by the desk sergeant because of his knowledge of sign language, a skill he says was self-taught because of a non-verbal daughter with autism.

McMichael says he phoned the taxi service himself and was told the driver would be at her home in 45 minutes, so he waited with her. When the driver offered up another excuse 45 minutes later, McMichael then told him to forget it, and loaded the lady into his patrol car.

At that time of night, bus service wasn't running and the woman had no family in the area to take her to and from the store.

McMichael says he's happy the incident not only brought out the good in people but also put law enforcement in a positive light. He was surprised when first his shift sergeant wrote a commendation letter.

Then his captain decided more people should know about his good deed.

Before it was all over, State Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) sponsored a resolution that is making its way through the Alabama Legislature, commending McMichael.





http://www.wtvm.com/story/31776157/anniston-good-samaritan-cop-recognized-for-helping-a-deaf-woman-get-groceries

 

[Legion Troll]

This stray puppy was without a friend in the world — that is, until she found just the person to help change her life forever.

Officer Kareem Garibaldi, from Florida's Lakeland Police Department, found the lonely little pit-bull-boxer mix wandering through a neighborhood while on patrol in the early hours of Saturday morning. Since she wasn't wearing a collar, the officer wasn't able to track down her owner. So, instead, he took her back to the station and later home with him when his shift ended.

The next day, he tried once again to find the puppy's owner, but again to no avail. But when Garibaldi finished work this time, he did more than make sure she was safe.

First thing in the morning, after his third 12-hour shift in as many days, Garibaldi brought the puppy to the SPCA Florida for a checkup. Upon arriving to work, the shelter's safety net manager, Connie Johnson, was touched to see just how dedicated the officer was to the little dog under his care.

"I walked in, and that's when I saw him and the puppy," Johnson said. "He was exhausted, the puppy was exhausted, and they were sleeping. It was one of those moments that just grab your heart. He was so determined to get her help."

For the next three hours, Garibaldi continued to wait while vets assessed the dog — who, aside from having some mites, was found to be in good health.

"It clearly was a selfless thing to do. He wasn't thinking about getting home to sleep. He was thinking about what he could do to help this puppy survive," said Johnson. "He actually woke up at one point just to see if she was OK, then he went back to sleep."

After the checkup, Garibaldi brought the puppy, later named Hope, back to the police station — and that's where the happy story takes an even happier turn. It was there, Johnson says, that a dispatcher saw the puppy and fell in love.

Sure enough, Hope was adopted that day.





https://www.thedodo.com/cop-sleeps-rescued-puppy-1817676697.html?utm_source=huffingtonpost.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange