Per reports, the father, James, moved from a different state. One day, he noticed police officers looking into the windows of his car. What happened next left him stunned. During an interview with the responding officers, the dad reportedly said that he moved with his 10-year-old daughter in search of a fresh start. “I packed up everything that we own in the truck and … we just drove here,” the father said. “It was more of a risk staying. I couldn’t get a job for anything, couldn’t get a place to live.”
Because of his struggle with finding a job, the father and his daughter were forced to live in his vehicle. However, the vehicle had broken down after they arrived, so they were sleeping in the SUV, while the father had to walk his daughter to school every day. The girl’s school became concerned that the father and daughter were living in a car, so they called local police to investigate. Officer Butler went to the scene to find out for himself. “I saw them looking at my truck, I said ‘Officers, what is going on?'” the father told KUSA. “[He] said ‘We’re trying to help you.’ I said, ‘Ok, I can accept that.'”
The father added, “I’m not used to getting help from cops.” When Butler heard James’ story and learned that he lost his job and his car was dead, he wanted to help out. “It was the right thing to do,” Butler said. “Because at any point in time in our lives any one of us can be in that same situation — offering assistance to another human being is the right thing to do.” Butler and fellow officers were able to help the father and daughter find a shelter in which to stay. They also had Ace Towing bring James’ SUV to have it fixed. Both companies happily agreed to donate their services.
“Feels really different to help someone who you know is down on their luck,” said the owner Jere. Officers are also working to help James and his daughter find permanent housing. The father is very grateful for the officers’ help. “I think it’s awesome, I think it’s really cool — very unexpected, but very cool,” he said. Readers shared their thoughts on the story on Facebook. “Once again we have another example of how caring most police officers are!” one reader commented. “His example should be followed by everyone. Because he made a difference in two lives! So did the people that reached out and helped when the officer asked for help. It is people like this that are the traditional backbone of our country and I am proud of them!”
