There are so many negative stories about police officers, it’s heart-warming to hear a story about one who does a good deed just to help someone in need. Corporal Che Atkinson was performing his usual job duties of filling out required paperwork when he was informed of a woman in need by another officer at his station. An eight-year veteran of the Prince George’s County police force, he learned that the woman was homeless with a baby, according to WUSA Channel 9.
The woman and her baby had been housed in a homeless shelter but had to leave. Out of options, she went to the police station in Hyattsville, Maryland, seeking help. He tried, without luck, to get assistance for the woman, even contacting a social worker before heading out on patrol. After learning that the woman was a victim of domestic abuse, he contacted a distant relative to help her. Unfortunately, the woman and her baby were still at the police station the next day when Atkinson went to work. The story went viral when it was posted on the department’s Facebook page , with over 17,000 likes and over 4,000 shares.
So the kind officer decided to use his own money to find the woman and her baby a temporary place to stay. He put them up in a hotel room and supplied them with food and beverages. He even got a child car seat to safely transport the baby. Atkinson stated the following, according to the Huffington Post.
“I told [the woman]…I’m going to find you a place…I’m going to put you up for the night….I had the extra money. What would it hurt just to put them up for a night to make sure they’re safe?…I’m a little overwhelmed and shocked. And the reason why is it didn’t seem like a big deal to me because I see other officers do stuff like this all the time. It’s not a big deal….This is a helpless child so it’s our duty to help and that child was definitely in need.”
People who read the story were so touched by such an act of kindness that they commented on Facebook. As a summary of what most people felt, one commenter stated the following. “With all that is going on with law enforcement it is GREAT to see that we STILL have officers that truly understand to Protect and Serve. I know he was doing his job, but we should all thank him for giving us back a moment where we can look up to and appreciate our law enforcement officers.”
[Photo Courtesy Facebook]