Random act of kindness - Temecula PD

[cindynles]

With all of the negativity in the news lately I wanted to share a really awesome act of kindness I witnessed today. So if any of you know officers in the Temecula PD (Riverside Sheriff's Dept) please let them know the community noticed.

Around 3:30pm today I was driving down Margarita Road in Temecula and I noticed a cruiser with his lights on behind and SUV. At first I thought it was just a traffic stop, but as I got closer I noticed what was really going on. The SUV had a flat tire and the officer was helping the two young ladies change the tire . I actually saw him bent over and pulling the flat off.

Those young ladies and everyone that drove by and witnessed this will have a really positive impression of the department. No one would have ever expected him to stop and change a tire, but he did, and he did it wearing all of that duty gear.

[LtJim]

Dont know how to to say this politely, but that was an incorrect way to handle the situation.
Thats what tow trucks are for.
He is a Law Enforcement Officer. That's his job. Not Changing flat tires.
Although it sounds nice and feels good--thats a wrong decision.

If you dont believe me--ask any of the LEO's here with Tenure.
And for all you tenured LEO's - Remember Gordon Graham's numerous courses on assisting "Stranded Motorists"?

[IrishJoe3]

Disagree Jim. As a LEO I have changed the tires of many people; stranded single mothers with no friends or funds, old ladies at 2:00AM on the freeway, I've even taught a few young bucks how to change tires.

I've also caught stray dogs and returned them home, found lost Alzheimers patients, and caught countless loose livestock. I've escorted lost old ladies home, and had my uniform shoulder soaked by the tears of a mother who lost her son.

I'm a peace officer and thats exactly what I get paid for. I deliver a product, that product is Safety, Service and Security. There are more ways to acomplish that than making an arreat.

[rcslotcar]

I also disagree, as a "LT", He is admin, not a working field officer.

[CaptMike]

I also tend to disagree. A few years ago, I was traveling northbound on the I5. A motorcycle with 2 riders rear ended a stopped vehicle in the #2 lane. Both riders went flying. I pulled my pickup up to the scene and started working on the worst on. I noticed the traffic was starting to move around us again, then a guy approached, i told him to handle traffic. Another guy approached and I asked him to call 911.

The interesting thing was that i was an off duty LA County Deputy Probation Officer, the guy that directed traffic was an off duty Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff and the guy that made the call was an off duty Los Angeles Police Officer. We were the only 3 that stopped to help. Is it safe, definitely not, but we get involved for other reasons when legally we could have all just kept driving by like the other thousand people that drove past us on that road. As an LT. I wont ask my Deps to do what I did, but they all raised that right hand for a reason, and i hope they would continue to do the right thing.

[LtJim]

Depends on where you did your time I guess---

S/E Los Angeles in the city, my troops were not changing tires - as one of their job functions, they assisted stranded motorists in getting them on their way -

We provide resources. How many disabled veh's occur within an 8 hr shift? Loads! If we spent our time doing tasks that are readily available from other resources, when we are needed for a genuine LEO emergency situation are we gonna have AAA handle that? No.

Call it old school, call it mean, call it what you want. That's real world.

Admin? You bet! While at the Same time Field W/C 10 years - (30+ yrs total). No anchor to a desk.

[LtJim]

Hi Capt Mike---
Totally agree in your situation! Stopping and rendering aid at a T/C is completely different than changing a tire for a disabled motorist.

Lots of us LEOs have stopped at T/Cs off duty -

Handling T/C's and traffic on duty is a basic job function

[IrishJoe3]

Jim, I did part of my career in East Los Angeles. I know the mean streets. Yet I still provided real service as well as fulfilling my LE duties.

Its no secret the residents in your and my old stomping grounds don't like us. If one of your officers spent five minutes changing a tire, and 100 people saw it. Don't you think that gap would be bridged, just a little? From that perspective, isn't that 5 minutes well spent?

[cindynles]

Jim, I did part of my career in East Los Angeles. I know the mean streets. Yet I still provided real service as well as fulfilling my LE duties.

Its no secret the residents in your and my old stomping grounds don't like us. If one of your officers spent five minutes changing a tire, and 100 people saw it. Don't you think that gap would be bridged, just a little? From that perspective, isn't that 5 minutes well spent?

Exactly. Everyone who drove by knew the officer didn't have to do that, but the fact that he was doing it anyway was a really positive example. If I knew who the officer was his next lunch would be on me.

[ckgarside]

Lets go back several years ago when I was a kid (maybe 10 or 12). I distinctly remember driving with my mom and encountering a flat tire. At the time, neither of us were mechanically inclined or physically able to remove the bolts. Of course this was a time when no everyone carried a cell phone, us included.

A very kind CHP officer pulled over, assisted us with the tire and then followed us the the nearest gas station to make sure we were all good. The entire ordeal didn't take 10 minutes, but it changed my view of law enforcement officers form that day on.

[IrishJoe3]

CKgarside, thats exactly what I am talking about...little actions of service and assistance has huge and lasting impact on members of the public.

I was 18 and had a run in with a cop. I was wrong, he could have run me through the wringer. But didn't. He was calm and professional. I left with a ticket and a high degree of respect.

I now work for that agency.

[v.kevin]

I once ran out of gas on Hwy 99 just south of Fresno. A CHP officer stopped and gave me a ride to the next exit where I bought a gas can and filled it up. She waited for me and gave me a ride back to my car on the side of the hwy.

She didn't have to and I really appreciated her sense of community and kindness.

[Spanky8601]

Disagree Jim. As a LEO I have changed the tires of many people; stranded single mothers with no friends or funds, old ladies at 2:00AM on the freeway, I've even taught a few young bucks how to change tires.

I've also caught stray dogs and returned them home, found lost Alzheimers patients, and caught countless loose livestock. I've escorted lost old ladies home, and had my uniform shoulder soaked by the tears of a mother who lost her son.

I'm a peace officer and thats exactly what I get paid for. I deliver a product, that product is Safety, Service and Security. There are more ways to acomplish that than making an arreat.

You are right Irish. I changed many a tire for those not capable. And helped change many a tire by providing instruction and help as needed, so the next time they would have an ideal of what to do. I also kept a small bag of tools that I had found and "give" them to individuals who needed a pair of pliers/screwdriver to finish an emergency repair. Every time those assisted went away with a more positive view of Law Enforcement.

Lt Jim, if you took classes from Gordon, (my senior class) was that your picture he would show when talking about his LT? FYI I did 35 years in the field and as a Field Supervisor.

[sgtgadget]

Dont know how to to say this politely, but that was an incorrect way to handle the situation.
Thats what tow trucks are for.
He is a Law Enforcement Officer. That's his job. Not Changing flat tires.
Although it sounds nice and feels good--thats a wrong decision.

If you dont believe me--ask any of the LEO's here with Tenure.
And for all you tenured LEO's - Remember Gordon Graham's numerous courses on assisting "Stranded Motorists"?

I also remember Gordon Graham talking about the "WOW" factor; specifically firefighters who responded to the scene of a home do-it-yourselfer in the middle of pouring a concrete walkway, who suffered a heart attack. After stabilizing the patient and transporting him, the engine company went back to the residence and competed the concrete work. Next time they wanted money from the budget for equipment, they got it. The WOW factor. I changed 2 tires in my career, yes one was pretty hot female, but it was an industrial area and not a lot of traffic. The other occasion were two elderly females in ELA. I would have been very appreciative if it was my wife or mom in either of those situations.

[Best sale]

I'm a peace officer and thats exactly what I get paid for. I deliver a product, that product is Safety, Service and Security. There are more ways to acomplish that than making an arreat.

Just reading through brings back the Old saying,
**Reach out and touch somebody's hand,make this world a better place, if you can**

God will continue to bless your soul and your entire bloodline's.
Respect.