Officer Hall Pays It Forward
The state of Michigan has not had a lot of good press lately.
Nor have police officers across the nation.
This is one bright spot for both.
Yes Virginia, Good Cops DO exist!
The story is below the fold (or click the link for the video)
EMMETT TOWNSHIP, Michigan (WXMI) — Emmett Township Public Safety Officer Ben Hall has gained a lot of attention after a traffic stop last Friday. While responding to a call of a child riding in a vehicle unsecured in a car seat, he met young mom Alexis DeLorenzo and her 5-year-old daughter.
“When I spoke to [DeLorenzo] she was very forthcoming and knew that the child should be in a booster seat,” Officer Hall told FOX 17 News. “She admitted that she was wrong and that she had recently fallen on hard times.”
MSNBC reports that the woman's car had been repossessed that day, with the car seat inside, and she could not afford a replacement.
Instead of ticketing DeLorenzo, Officer Hall told the mom to meet him at a nearby Walmart so he could buy a booster seat for her daughter.
“It was the easiest 50 bucks I ever spent,” said Officer Hall. “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.”
DeLorenzo said the generous officer gave her some much-needed hope with his selfless act.
“For a police officer that could have just given me a ticket, and gotten me in a whole lot of trouble, he out of the kindness of his own heart and out of his own pockets did something for me and my family that I’m never gonna forget,” she said. “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.”
DeLorenzo added that she hoped to “
pay it forward” too once she’s back on her feet.
I'm pretty unflappable but even with all of the twisted bad stuff going on, this one got me. -- TheCodfish
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Editor's Note: I find it interesting that this thread has devolved into a discussion of race.
When I first heard the story, I was not looking at the television, as I was cooking a nice dinner of pan roasted swai in lemon paprika sauce over roasted almond couscous. It did not occur to me to inquire about the 'race' of the individuals involved.
Hearing the last names of the officer and the mother did not lead me to any assumptions because it did not occur to me to make any.
I simply found that the story made me smile, and feel like there were other people out there trying to help.
I'll say it again -- Pay It Forward.
Or, to borrow a tagline
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -- Mahatma Gandhi
My intent with this post was to point out that there are positive events involving places and groups of people who have been taking a well-deserved thrashing in the public forums of late.
It was a recognition of a single act of thoughtfulness and compassion.
I refuse to attempt to read anything more into the event.