Police officers may be the recipients of a hell of a lot of stick these days, but there remain plenty who hold true to the values and ideals the force was built on.
Anyone doubting that need only look as far as the officers who stepped up to help buy a struggling gardener new tools after his truck was stolen, along with a great deal more.
Adrian Salgado had been gardening on Wednesday morning when is truck was taken from him. Fortunately, what could have been a heartbreaking tale became a much more positive one.
Adrian Salgado had started his first gardening job of the day at a gated community in Santa Ana, California on Wednesday when he noticed his van had gone missing.
Suspects later identified as 22-year-old Alan Babauta and 31-year-old Caroline Nguyen were accused of stealing the truck, along with his cellphone, equipment, and $1,000 of his rent money. Because Adrian only works a couple of days a week, he says it takes him about three months to generate that sort of cash.
When he got home, his daughter, Diana Reyes, called the police and began following her father’s phone through the “Find My iPhone” app.
“I felt bad for him because that’s hard work,” she said.
Caught red handed
Ultimately, police were able to track down Babauta and Nguyen, finding them with $500 each in their pockets. They claimed the money belonged to them, meaning police had to enter it as evidence. This in turn means that Salgado won’t be able to get it back.
Upon returning Salgado’s truck, officers asked him how he planned to make ends meet. He admitted he had no clue.
It was then that the officers, along with the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and Home Depot, stepped up to the plate.
Officers from Santa Ana donated $500, the officers’ union $500, and Home Depot $100 so that Salgado could replace all the equipment he had lost.
What’s more, due to the fact some of the officers are military members, they got a discount on the lawnmower, weedwacker, and other tools!
It pleases me to read stories about people banding together to help a soul who has been unfairly disadvantaged. Adrian was simply trying to do his job when he was the victim of a callous crime, but thanks to the hearts of the police officers, the day was saved.
Please share this article on Facebook if you want to give thanks to these brilliant people, and to wish Adrian well!
