A young business owner and a police officer’s chance meeting has warmed hearts and shown how community policing can help people.
Landen’s grandmother recorded their talk, which showed that the boy’s goal was to make enough money to buy blue school sneakers. Officer Perez was interested and kind as he talked to Landen before going back to his watch.
Officer Perez did not forget about Landen, though. He went back to the lemonade stand and gave Landen the blue sneakers he had been thinking of as a surprise. It was clear that the boy was very happy, and his grandma, Wendelyn Narvaez, was very thankful.
Landen was wearing his new sneakers with pride when Narvaez posted about him on Facebook. “He made my baby’s day yesterday and not only that, he made him feel like a king,” she wrote.
Chief Wayne Williams of the Ansonia Police Department praised Officer Perez and said that his kindness is exactly what they look for in police officers. This touching story reminds us that even though the news is mostly bad, there are many stories of police officers doing good things in their neighborhoods.
A simple but thoughtful act by Officer Perez has led to calls for more news about the good things police officers do. His deeds show that even short conversations can have a big effect on someone’s life.
