Detective Orlando Sanchez and Officer Yohans Martinez Sunny Isles Beach Police Officers of the Month

To say that we will never know what a Random Act of Kindness can do for another is so true. Here is a story of one that will not hit the 6:00 news, but will warm your heart.

On Sunday mornings, a number of Sunny Isles Beach Officers play softball in a league. On February 22, an unusually warm and humid day, two of the officers decided to stop at a nearby convenience store for water and Gatorade. The line was long and being delayed apparently by an elderly little lady at the front of the line asking if anyone would help her. She was tiny, looked frail, but was clearly articulate - and exasperated and frustrated that no one was willing to listen or offer help.

Officers Martinez and Detective Sanchez, who were at the end of the line, left their places and went to check on her. It seems she was from a different state and had no idea of how the gas pumps and prepayment in Florida work. She was only asking someone to help her get gas for her car. Her name was Bea and they immediately took the lady outside to see if they could solve her dilemma. Her credit card would not work at the pump so the officers went inside and prepaid with their own cash to fill Bea's tank. Bea was so thankful for the assistance and asked how much she owed them. They responded, "you don't owe us anything; this is our treat to you." With that, Bea began to cry. Consoling and asking her what was wrong, Bea said, "Today is my birthday and my biggest fear was that I was going to spend it alone, but you boys have made my day . . ."
Each officer gave her a hug and a kiss. She said she would never forget the officers who helped her when no one else would bother.

Chief Maas said, ". . .the qualities that many of the Sunny Isles Beach officers possess cannot be learned through training or by giving orders. They are qualities of compassion, sympathy, respect for others, and acts of human kindness. . ."

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