What comes to your mind when somebody talks to you about the police?
Admittedly, in the past few years, some members of the different police departments in the US have not been giving the badge a good name.
It’s always unfortunate when misbehaving cops ruin the respectable reputation that so many US police officers uphold every day.
One such police officer is Interim Chief David Snively of the Morrow GA Police Department.
Officer Snively arrived at the scene to assist another officer in arresting a motorist.
The driver was pulled over for speeding and distracted driving. And when the officer stopped him, the driver began to argue with the officer, leading to his arrest.
Officer Snively would find out that the driver wasn’t alone.
There were two people inside the car as well, his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s young daughter.
The driver’s girlfriend tried to talk to the officers on behalf of her boyfriend. And unbeknownst to them, the little girl with them was crying while she watched what was happening.
The only person who noticed the little girl crying was Officer Snively. And she asked the kind officer what was going to happen.
“This little girl walked confidently up to me during a traffic stop, fighting back tears as she asked me if her mom’s boyfriend -who was being arrested- would ever come home. It ripped my heart out. I promised her that he was safe and that he would be home soon,” Officer Snively posted.
Officer Snively was so focused on comforting the little girl, he didn’t notice someone else took this photo of the two of them.
And that was because he was focused on helping and supporting.
“The Chief had no idea this picture was being taken – that wasn’t the point – the point was to show compassion, respect, and humanity during a terrifying moment in this little girl’s life,” Kaitlyn Ross wrote on her Facebook post.
The Morrow GA Police Department was glad that the person who took this photo shared it with them.
“Interactions like this happen every day, at every level of our department; and we’re proud that a community member thought to take this picture and share it with us!” the Morrow GA Police Department shared on their Facebook post.
And when it was posted and shared by so many people, that was the only time Officer Snively found out this photo even existed.
But it doesn’t matter to him if this photo was taken or any photo of him helping a citizen.
“There are many things in my life beyond my understanding, plenty of failures and disappointments. But one thing has been always clear to me: I know my purpose on this earth,” Officer Snively shared on Linkedin. “Today, God put me in a place to use it, and I am certain that sweet little girl did more for me than I could have done for her.”
Thank you, Officer Snively, for taking the time to explain to the little girl what was happening. It meant a lot to the little girl and her mother.
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