Here, there and everywhere

Hubby and I sat watching the news.

A burglar was dramatically holding 12 people hostage in a Trader Joe’s store. The frightened people were lying on the floor in the produce aisle, most of them crying, as the gun was waved randomly around the room. The police soon arrived, ten cars, lights flashing. It became a standoff as the man with the gun threatened to shoot hostages if the police came in. It was an ongoing situation and the news had nothing more to report.

A large boat had slipped off its trailer and landed on the car behind it. The bow was buried nose down in the street and the stern was waving in the air, balanced precariously on the hood of the car. Its driver was in the street, talking to the news reporter. It happened so fast that he hadn't even seen it coming, like one could possibly anticipate such a thing. The driver of the boat trailer was distraught and told the policewoman that he was sick to his stomach, obviously concerned about his liability in the situation. Not only didn't he have a license, but he also had not tied the boat down, thinking it would be fine on the trailer for the short drive to the ocean.

An elderly man with Alzheimer’s had left his care facility and taken a walk in the nice weather and then he could not be found. The nice weather turned rainy and cold, and his absence was worrisome. Many police and volunteers began searching the area, and found the gentleman around midnight, huddled under a tree and crying for his wife. With great cheers from the searchers, they covered him with a large blanket and led him gently back to his home.

That night, in the stormy weather, an SUV driving too fast on a slippery road jumped the guardrail and fell into a ravine. Fortunately, the accident was witnessed and the police were called. As they directed traffic around the scene, the tow truck went to work raising the car.

A man, obviously under the effects of drugs or severe mental illness, had shot his wife and waved the gun towards his 2-year old-son, who was crying on the living room floor. When the altercation began, his wife had called 911, shouting for help. The police had arrived and one of them stepped forward to engage the man, trying to calm him down. His gentle way and empathy towards the shooter’s problems took the man by surprise. As he started to cry and drop his gun, two policemen tackled him from behind and placed him in handcuffs.

The wheelchair of a 6-year-old with cerebral palsy had been stolen from her front porch where her family regularly kept it because they lived on the second floor. The sweet faced girl, with black Shirley Temple curls, was happy as the local police presented her with a new chair. Her body moved up and down in excitement. One of the policeman also announced that he had found the family a first floor apartment, at which point mom jumped up and down in excitement.

All of these stories were on the news last evening. It could have been the news in Rhode Island or anywhere, but this show was from a New Hampshire television station. The other thing these stories have in common was that each one had police presence. The police are often invisible in such situations, working in the background for a positive outcome. Crucial, helpful, life saving, and often unrecognized. Next time a news show airs anywhere, anytime, keep an eye open for these uncelebrated heroes that give the news a happy ending. Thank them, and all policemen and women, for their service.