Police Officer Neil Fetner got the surprise of a lifetime when a routine traffic stop ultimately ended up with him getting delivered an order of french fries from Arby’s. He shared the story in a post on the Clanton Police Department Facebook page, and almost immediately, it began going viral.
It all started when the officer pulled over mom Kristen Lawrence at a driver’s license checkpoint that the department had established.
Sitting patiently in the backseat of the vehicle was Lawrence’s three-year-old son Carter.
“I made contact with the driver of the vehicle and as I was requesting the driver’s information, I noticed a small male child waving to me from the backseat,” explained Officer Fetner. “I took notice of the child because I have a son around the same age.”
It turns out, the young boy was really hungry.
He and his mom were on their way to Arby’s to get dinner when they were stopped at the checkpoint.
Whereas some kids would probably start crying in a situation such as this, Carter simply wanted to join in on the conversation.
He told the officer that he was excited because he was going to Arby’s.
“I asked the little boy if he liked curly fries and he nodded yes with a big smile on his face. I jokingly ask him if he was going to bring me back some curly fries from Arby’s and he grinned real big,” said Officer Fetner.
That was that.
Lawrence was able to provide her driver’s license and proof of insurance, so Officer Fetner sent them on their way. He never expected to see them again, especially not on the same day, but that’s exactly what happened.
“About 20 minutes later, I was checking license on Lake Mitchell Road when a vehicle pulled up to our driver’s license checkpoint and the driver handed me a small bag of curly fries from Arby’s.”
It was Lawrence and Carter!
The young boy wanted to “make sure that the policeman got his curly fries for dinner”.
Police officers have to eat too and Carter didn’t want the hardworking cop to go hungry. It was a simple gesture that warmed Officer Fetner’s heart.
“It is small things like this that make me proud to wear my badge. It is refreshing that parents are still raising their children in a positive manner,” said Officer Fetner.
Anyone who has a police officer in the family knows just how demanding of job it can be.
Not only is it dangerous but it also often involves working very long and irregular hours.
“I am very happy to know that there are still people in society that appreciate the sacrifices made by law enforcement,” the officer explained.
He made the Facebook post in an attempt to track down the driver and her son and repay their lovely act of kindness.
Soon, the comments and likes flooded in.
“I often reflect on Proverbs 22:6,” said Officer Fetner. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is grown, he will not depart from it”.
Ultimately, the story got back to Lawrence and her family.
Officer Fetner as well as several other members of the local police departments wanted to show their appreciation and decided to give Carter an honorary police badge.
The officers also took Lawrence and Carter out to lunch to return the favor. Their restaurant of choice? Arby’s, of course! Although, this time, the curly fries were on Officer Fetner’s tab.
Check out the full news video discussing the curly fries act of kindness below.
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