172536_CPCA_2020_Spring Magazine - Final | Page 25

home and met with her to make sure she was okay and not in need
of immediate medical attention. She asked him to pick up a stomach
reliver and Neosporin ointment. The officer then offered her a hot
meal. The proud woman said she was fine and was not hungry since
her stomach was bothering her. The officer could see she was on a
fixed income and offered to pick up any other items she needed. She
added a few more things to the list and the officer went to the local
drug store. He purchased the medicine, along with enough groceries
to sustain her for the next week or two. The woman who reminded
the officer of his own grandmother tried to pay the officer for the
groceries, but he declined and said he was happy to help. If that
wasn’t enough, on his way out, he took out the garbage.
Another similar opportunity arose when a community service officer
(CSO) took a phone report stating that an elderly woman mistakenly
left a significant amount of money behind on a convenience store
counter. The money was taken by another customer who came in
after the woman left. Our police department is fortunate to have
a department chaplain program and a strong relationship with our
faith-based community. The CSO called the chaplain and in short
order the chaplain went to the faith community and sought donations
to help replace the money. Due to the engagement of the CSO, the
chaplain believed it would be meaningful for him to meet the victim
in person since he had only heard her tell the story on the translation
service phone line. They set up a time and met. The victim retold
her account of what had happened with emotion, explaining that she
had lost all the money she had. When she was done, the translator
told her why they were there. They were delivering an envelope from
the church to recoup her loss. She was speechless for a moment, then
said in Spanish, “I’ve been praying, and my God moved a mountain
today.” Everyone was choked up and needed to pause a moment as
the victim shared her delight.
Opportunities like this would not happen if we didn’t have quality
caring people all over our beautiful city. There are so many layers of
connection woven throughout the story. Each person involved was
impacted positively for the part they played.
As we all have experienced before, police officers and firefighters
are frequently recognized for heroic acts they perform during times
of crisis. This crisis is not one of them. For this fight we must rely
on our healthcare professionals. The hospital staff and medical
SPRING 2020 | CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEF 25