A small act of kindness by one police officer made all the difference in this family’s life, and we are all better for it.
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In an ocean of stories in the media about police brutality and unwarranted disrespect and aggression that overwhelm and anger us, comes a shining island in the form of a heartwarming story about a police officer with a heart and brains to match.
In Emmett Township, Michigan, Public Safety Officer Ben Hall responded to a call last Friday about a child riding in a car with her mother, unsecured in a child seat. The mother, Alexis DeLorenzo, explained that the reason that her 5-year-old was only secured with a seat belt, and not the required and safer car seat, is that her car was recently repossessed with the booster seat in it. “She admitted that she was wrong and that she had recently fallen on hard times.”
Officer Hall had a choice: Give Alexis a ticket for the safety violation, which would simply and only exacerbate her financial troubles (what most of us would cynically expect him to do), or, help her out by buying her a car seat, which he did.“It was the easiest 50 bucks I ever spend,” he said, “it’s something that anybody in the same position, in our position would do…I in no way, shape or form expect to be paid back. It is a ‘pay it forward’ situation completely.”
Alexis DeLorenzo said this generous and selfless act by the officer gave her much needed hope:
“For a police officer that could have just given me a ticket, and gotten me in a whole lot of trouble, he out of kindness of his own heart and out of his own pockets did something for me and my family that I’m never gonna forget…he did his job and above and beyond that, just to protect a little girl and to help a family that can’t help themselves right now.” She added that she hopes and intends to “pay it forward,” once she is back on her feet.
Photo: Officer Hall /ktla.com Video: LoneWolfSager /youtube
You are correct and that is why we need to support and applaud the good ones while we hold the bad ones to task.
This is an example of a real cop. Not the ones who wear Nazi helmets and facemasks while throwing their weight around.