Kindness 911 Recognizes Everyday Heroes
When police officers hand out citations, it is usually for speeding or jaywalking. But some police officers are giving out citations for doing acts of kindness.
These officers are part of Kindness 911, a support organization that connects law enforcement and fire departments with their local constituents by recognizing people and groups that are making a positive impact in their communities. They do so, according to SunnySkyz, by handing out Kindness Citations to these everyday heroes.
How Kindness 911 Works
How it works is quite simple. If an officer sees someone doing a kind act – large or small – he or she can issue a Kindness Citation. The recipients of the citation can then go online to enter their citation number and to share their story.
Their stories are shared by Kindness 911 on social media, and the organization gives a donation to a charity in the recipient’s honor. These donations include Ronald McDonald House and the Special Olympics.
One example is from Deschutes County, Oregon where an officer responded to a call about an injured squirrel in the middle of the road. She was not able to leave her district to take the injured animal to a nearby animal hospital. But a woman and her son – Susan and Sam – who were out walking their dog, could.
They offered to drive the squirrel to the animal rescue that was 30 minutes away. This act of kindness earned them a Kindness Citation.
“It was wonderful to see the softer side of the police force!” Susan said on social media. “It made me want to spread more kindness.”
The Officers Who Participate
Spokane police officer Ed Richardson, or Big Ed as he is called, is one of 10 Spokane, Washington police officers that was chosen to hand out Kindness Citations in the city, reported The Spokesman-Review.
The reserve officer has spent the last six years working in some of the city’s toughest neighborhoods where he has gained the trust of the at-risk kids who live there. He has 30,000 followers on TikTok with millions of views. Richardson is known as the only cop in Spokane that these youth won’t run from.
“We put this uniform on, and some think we become different people,” Richardson told The Spokesman-Review. “I always say I don’t let the uniform change me. I’m still gonna be that same person who shows compassion.”
The Spokane Police Department has already issued several citations but handing out awards is not new for Richardson who has been handing out wooden coins to kids with a comical rendition of his face on the front and the words, “A little progress each day adds up to big results” on the back.
The Kindness Citations are a way for police officers to connect with the community in a positive manner, especially when trust has been broken in recent years. It seems to be working, one citation at a time.
