Cops are here to protect and serve us. And sometimes? That even means playing with dolls.
After a hard day’s work of catching hardened criminals and laying down the law, South Hill Police Cpl. C.B. Fleming likes to relax and unwind by playing with Barbie dolls.
Uh, say what?!
“I figured if I could be that bright spot in someone’s day then that’s all that mattered.”
You could say that Cpl. Fleming was just “doing his job” when responded to reports of a possible gas leak at Mecklenburg Manor in South Hill, Virginia on Valentine’s Day.
However, what went down after emergency crews determined there was no longer a danger to life and limb wasn’t exactly part of his job description!
When Fleming spotted some kids hanging around outside the apartment complex, he wanted to make them feel safe since they had just gone through a scary experience. So, he stuck around to spread some cheer.
And what’s the best way to make children instantly light up? Declare a recess, of course!
Since he was still the new kid on the block and pretty much towered over everyone else, Cpl. Fleming dropped to the ground to appear less of a threat.
Once he gained everyone’s trust, he got busy coloring books with the boys and playing dolls with the girls. That’s much more fun and productive than filling out paperwork, right?
“People need the positivity.”
When 28-year-old Iesha Roper-Boswell saw Fleming playing Barbie with her niece and daughter, she whipped out her smartphone and recorded his unusual behavior.
While most attention hogs crave social media exposure, she told WTVR that she didn’t do it for the likes or clicks.
“I was telling him that my daughter, my niece, and some of the other children here were afraid of cops. So when he came and played with them, I captured that moment, not because I thought it would go viral, but it was amazing that my niece didn’t break out into tears.”
As for Cpl. Fleming, who got caught red-handed goofing around on duty, maybe his bosses will let this one slide since he most likely stuck to the rules and didn’t color outside the lines.
“It’s something I’ve always tried to do.”
The media doesn’t always portray cops in a good light, which is why it’s always been Cpl. Fleming’s goal to be seen as more than a just blight on people’s radar. He takes community kindness very seriously, even if it is expressed in a rather cheeky way!
“When I got into this job, I knew there was something different, other than just writing tickets and being the bad person all the time.”
Fleming didn’t want to come across as just another cop earning a paycheck, so he started reaching out to the community on a personal level.
“I figured if I could let them know that I was an anchor point, that they could come and talk to me and trust me, then I could do some good. I want everyone, not just the kids… but the moms and dad… to know that they can come to me.”
As a mom and auntie, Iesha absolutely adores what Cpl. Fleming has done for her neighborhood.
“He’s awesome. That’s the only word you can really use to describe C.B. It’s just amazing, the bond he has with the children.”
Iesha says that Fleming’s genuine interest in the neighborhood kiddos really shows:
“For him to make my child feel like she’s safe, she doesn’t even have to call 911, she just has to call C.B. if she’s in trouble. I’m glad he made this part of his job. He’s changed my daughter and niece’s lives.”
Watch the touching story in the video below and share this beautiful moment with your friends and family.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
