Thanks to a very kind policeman

June 22 /09

Hi everybody. I want to tell you about something that happened last Tuesday, the day that Beauty went to the Rainbow Bridge. Even though it was a sad, sad day, something happened during all the chaos that was so amazing and worth sharing.

As Mama was rushing to the vet, Beauty was in the passenger seat of her car wrapped in a towel. At that point, we're pretty sure she was no longer alive. We think she died on the way to the car, or at least that's when she seemed to be taking her last breaths.

Mama must have run a stop sign. She's not sure because she was crying hysterically while she was driving, and she kept glancing at Beauty and caressing her. But suddenly, there was a police car behind her with the siren blaring and lights flashing. She had enough presence of mind to pull over and thankfully, the policeman approached her right away. Sometimes they just sit in their vehicle for ten minutes doing I don't know what. Mama pleaded with him to let her take her cat to the vet quickly. He glanced over at Beauty and his whole demeanour changed. He asked Mama where the vet is. She told him the street and he waved for her to go, saying, "Vas-y donc, madame." ("Go ahead then, madame.")

As Mama continued down the road, the police car pulled up in front of her and led the way with the lights flashing (no siren), all the way to the vet's clinic. He actually gave her a police escort! What kindness!

There's a point in the road, just before the clinic, where you can make an illegal U-turn which gets you to the clinic sooner. A ticket is handed out automatically to anyone who makes that turn (like Mama once got when she was rushing me to the vet *) So the policeman actually blocked the road with his car, stopped the traffic, and let Mama make the U-turn right into the vet's driveway.

The time she saved would not have changed Beauty's condition, but that simple act of kindness meant so much at a time like that, and Mama says she'll never forget it. The next day she wanted to call the police station and find out who he was so she could thank him personally, but Papa said not to because maybe he wasn't supposed to let her make that turn and he could get into trouble.

But we hope he knows how grateful she was.

* Last year I was bitten by a dog at the park. He was much bigger than me and he had practically my whole face in his mouth. By the time Mama separated us, my eye was bleeding. Mama couldn't tell if the blood was coming from my eye or from around the eye but it was scary. (It turned out to be just above my eye.) She hustled me into the car and sped to vet. We got to that point in the road where the U-turn is, and she just ignored the sign and made the turn. Wouldn't you know it? A policeman flagged her down to give her a ticket.

She showed him how I was bleeding in the back seat and she begged him to let her through. He wouldn't. She asked him to meet her at the clinic, which was just a couple of yards away, and she would show him her licence and registration once I was seen by the vet. He refused. He continued to argue with her about the traffice sign and if he let her through, he'd have to let everyone through ... Rather than waste anymore time, Mama just gave him her wallet and insisted he return it at the vet, with the ticket. And she drove on, come what may.

From the vet's window, she could see the policeman standing in the parking lot waiting for her to come out. He didn't even have the decency to come in and give her back her wallet. He stood there for 20 minutes doing nothing, when he could have been out on the road doing his job.

I know policeman have very important work to do. I know it is their job to keep our streets safe and to make sure that everyone obeys the laws. But aren't there times when exceptions can be made, when a little kindness and compassion should prevail? I could understand that this policeman wasn't willing to ignore the violation. That's his right. But he could have obliged Mama by not delaying her and by agreeing to meet her in the clinic to give her the ticket, instead of arguing about it.

Anyway, I just thought that the policeman who stopped Mama on Tuesday was a very kind man. Although we don't know who he is, and probably wouldn't recognize him if we saw him again, we want to thank him for being caring and compassionate and for having the wisdom to know that being a good policeman also means being a good human being.

23 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

In times like this, it was furry nice to see THIS!

Tank woo fur sharing!

Paws khrossed something good happened and/or happens to him soon fur being nice!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Abby said...

Hi, Chef...

Your story made my Mom's eyes leak...

What a wonderful policeman to be so kind to your Mom...

We are so sorry for your Loss...You & your family are in our thoughts & prayers...

Abby xxxooo

Deetz said...

My heart pours out tears for you and your mama. I would like to send heartfelt wishes to this police officer who was so kind to see how an act of kindness can go along way and we pray for his safety throughout his service.
Deetzy

Noah the Airedale said...

Oh my goodness what a great story. Some people regardless of their job are just decent humain people and clearly others are scum! Thanks for sharing your experiences. We wish more people were like the nice man of last Wednesday.

tailwags
Noah

Eric said...

Aw Chef, what a lovely story,Mom is all leaky me too. What a compassionate are caring man,that simple act will never been forgotten. A real sahme his colleague couldn't do the same. Bet I know which officer is the most effective at his work.And a happier leggeded.

Wiry loves and special kissies for your Mom from my kittie bro Otis and me. Eric nxxxxx

Niamh said...

What a good, kind policeman to help your mama with Beauty! Even though it was a horrible, stressful situation for her, he helped her. Hope you all are doing ok.

Your friend,
Niamh

Jans Funny Farm said...

Your mom met one in a million. Most cops will do like the one who gave her a ticket -- argue and waste time. Like the copy who wouldn't let the athlete go to his dying mother at the hospital but kept him outside giving him a hard time until after the mother died. Or the cop who wouldn't let the wife drive their dying dog to the emergency vet while the cop gave her husband a ticket.

We're so glad your mom ran into one who actually did his job, used his head and had a heart.

Sophie Brador said...

So sorry to hear about Beauty. Very pleased to hear that there are some good cops out there and you met him.

xo
SB

Dewey Dewster said...

Gee Chef...

Sometimes ya just can't understand how some people can be so mean and then others can be so kind....that was one special policeman and I hope he saw yer blog so he knows that ya appreciated what he did....in the newspaper here, there is a column fer random acts of kindness and lots of people write in and tell about nice things people did fer them....sometimes it can such a swell world....

We're really sorry ta hear about Beauty goin' ta the bridge.....yer Mom and Dad have our sympathy.....


Dewey Dewster here....

Lorenza said...

Thanks for sharing those stories.
So different experiences.
I wish the best to that nice cop.
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Moco said...

As in a profession there are people who just can't think in shades of gray. Everything being black and white makes for a colorless world.

Toffee said...

We are so sorry to read about Beauty. It was obvious that you tried to do everything that you could - police escort, and everything. That was very thoughtful and considerate of that police officer to help you out.

sorry about Beauty.

Trailboss said...

That brought tears to my eyes. I am sure the kind policeman knows what he did and how much your mama appreciated it. Most folks like that don't want a thank you because they already have it by helping. I am sorry about Beauty. One of Sophie's puppies (he was 2)died this weekend. The family is simply lost. I'm sure he is plaing on the Rainbow Bridge with Beauty right now!

Deefor said...

I was so sorry to hear about Beauty but that was a great story about the policeman who helped your mom. My mom remembers some experiences with meanie police too.

Deefor

the many Bs said...

hi Chef, those are two really good stories - very different. that was so so so so so so so so nice of that nice policeman to give your mom an escort to the vet with Beauty. that policeman is a friend to animals. the other policeman who gave your mom a ticket was a mean policeman and he is not a friend. grrrr.... we like to forget about the mean one and remember the nice policeman.

woofs.

thimbles bobbins paper and ink said...

Ohhhh Chef. We are so sorry to hear about Beauty. It makes our momma have water falling out of her eyes. She wants you to give your momma a lick and tell her it is a hug from our momma.

Your story about the policeman is so very touching. Well, the nice one that helped your momma with Beauty. Not the mean one that didn't help with you.

We all want you to know how sad we are about Beauty. We know your whole family must miss her.

Woofs and slobbers from your Newfie pals,

Gabe, Paige and Willow

i said...

We're so sorry to hear about Beauty. Hugs to you.

Glad to know there's a kind soul helping you that day.

Lacy said...

w00fs, like they say u got one in a million cop...most all they want is the ticket quota..me is still thinking of u all, i nos u is missing Beauty..

b safe,
~rocky~

Molly the Airedale said...

That was a very nice thing for that policeman to do for your mom! Bless him!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

What a wonderful policeman that was.. We are sure that he knows in his heart how grateful you are...

We are so sorry about Beauty. Our hearts go out to you...

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Raising Addie said...

What a wonderful policeman! He is a true hero in our book!

That other policeman... he may not have understood at the time that he did something wrong, but someday he will and he will regret how he acted.

Chasing my tale...
Addie, Lucie, and Hailey

Unknown said...

Hi Chef,

Thanks for your message telling me about learning your first dance step...whoo! hoo! Am so excited! You sound like you're a natural! :-) Can't wait to see some video footage of your nifty pawwork! :-)

(just in time for Scooby's wedding! Ha! ha!)

Slobbers,
Honey the Great Dane

Unknown said...

Meeeow! That was one nice policeman. Cudos to him. Our Mummy had a similar experience about 33 years ago. Our big brother, Mark was 20 months old, raging fever. Mummy (and the Daddy too) were rushing him to JGH; a policeman flagged the Ex. When he saw Mark, he escorted them to JGH from Decarie circle to Emergency.
Our Mummy to this day appreciates what the policeman did.
Three cheers to kind-hearted police.
SashaCanadian