Texas officer’s act of kindness shows the impact of policing with compassion

0
2

Editor’s note: How does your agency measure up when it comes to wellness? Lexipol’s Wellness solutions help agencies deliver anonymous, 24/7 support, enhance peer support team readiness, and build a culture of wellness. Contact Lexipol at 844-312-9500 to learn more or request a demo.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to follow and signup for notifications!


A Stafford, Texas, police officer is getting well-deserved attention for an act of service that left a big impression. Caught on body camera video, Officer Florian helped a young man tie his tie before his first-ever job interview — a brief moment that captured what community policing can look like at its best.

“Oh, it was such a good video,” said Emily Hitchings. “It just goes to show you that community service happens in all sorts of different ways.” Hitchings noted how the young man ran to the group of officers for help, confident he’d be met with kindness.

“That goes a long way to show that you are dedicated to community commitment,” Hitchings said.

Greg Friese pointed out how the interaction showed officers as approachable and helpful, especially to young people.

“We want young people to think of police as helpers and to approach them,” Friese said. “It could be something really serious … or it could be like, hey, this is serious to me right now.”

Hitchings added that such moments are fuel against compassion fatigue.

The Stafford Police Department shared the video locally and on social media, creating a ripple of positivity. Stories like this remind officers, and their communities, of the quiet power of everyday compassion.

“A little pat on the back of like, I did something really good today goes a long way to fight compassion fatigue.”

| How to make citizens the most important person in your department. A blueprint for community-centric policing

About The Brief: Wellness Edition

The Brief: Wellness Edition video series explores the wellness implications of current events for public safety professionals. Each episode brings a timely conversation that connects unfolding events to the day-to-day realities of first responders.