A police officer made the news again. No, not for an unlawful killing or act of brutality. This time, a Massachusetts cop made the papers for an impressive act of compassion. Somerville Officer Ashley Catatao was awarded last year, for sending flowers to a speeding driver who was in distress. Well, Officer Catatao has done it again. This time helping a grandmother and a little girl when times were hard.
Last year, it was widely reported that Ofc. Catatao had been awarded the Beyond the Call of Duty Award, by Chief David Fallon. Fallon remarked that Catatao received the award for her empathy and professionalism. Not for stopping a robbery or saving a cat from a burning building, rather, Ofc Catatao’s contribution was of a more heartfelt nature.
During a routine traffic stop, Ofc. Catatao encountered a woman who had been delivered some tragic news. As she returned to the window of Robin Sutherland, she found the woman in tears. Her mother, as she had just found out, had to be admitted to hospice care. Ofc. Catatao comforted the woman and sent her on her way with a warning. Soon after, Ofc. Catatao sent Sutherland a bouquet of flowers with the message, “I’m very sorry to hear about your mother. I hope you find comfort in knowing she lived a long life and will continue to live on in your memories.” It is nice to see police recognized for the good they do. Unfortunately, it is often overshadowed by the bad.
More recently, Ofc. Catatao did it again. This time, she helped make the day of young girl. Ofc. Catatao waited in line at a Walgreen’s drug store, looking to purchase cards for Father’s Day. An elderly woman stood in front of her with a young girl. She handed a Barbie Doll to the cashier and asked for a price check. With a look of dismay, she had to tell her granddaughter that she just couldn’t afford it. Hearing this inspired something in Ofc. Catatao. She decided to purchase the doll herself. When she presented the doll to six year-old Jessica, the little girl was overwhelmed with gratitude. “She was shy, but she kept thanking me over and over. The grandmother was very appreciative,” Ofc. Catatao told the press. “I truly have the urge to help people. Something as small as saying ‘hi’ can make a huge difference.”
It is refreshing to see good news about police, for once. Police hold great responsibility and have the potential to shape communities and individuals alike. This is a great example of how police can personally impact the lives of the people they interact with. Affecting change positively, one life at a time, would be a much more effective strategy than the one we are seeing from police nowadays.
Sources: Masslive, Newser, Boston.com.
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