A black man's spotlight on police experience

I read a lot of stories about black men and their awful run-ins with cops. Can I share this black man's recent run-in with a policeman?

I had car trouble in Round Lake Beach and was stuck on the highway in the pouring rain. A white policeman came along and asked me what was happening. I told him.

He asked me, "Would you like me to call a tow truck for you?" I told him I did not have the money. I then told him I'd push it up the hill to the service station. He looked at me trying to push a car up a hill in the rain. He said, "Wait." He then got behind my car and started pushing.

I still had a bit of the flu and was breathing like I was dying. The policeman did most of the pushing. He asked with concern, "Are you OK? Do you want me to call a paramedic?" I said I just needed to catch my breath.

Once we pushed it into a parking space, he said, "The service station needs to know that your car will be here overnight. Do you want me to go in and let them know?"

I said, "Yes, Thank you."

He asked me when he returned, "Do you have someone to give you a lift home?"

"Not really. Everyone is miles away," I responded.

"I'll give you a lift," he said.

When I got out of his squad car, I said, "Thank you. I know this is not in your job description."

He replied, "Just glad I was able to help."

God bless that officer. Most police officers that I've met are decent people. Maybe we should give those many decent and caring officers a little bit of the spotlight.

Charles Danyus

Round Lake Beach,