By Chief Fred Maas

Stories of helpfulness and compassion and generosity are not limited to the times around Thanksgiving and Christmas and Hanukkah, etc.  They can be found or heard at any time during the year.  I just think they are more abundant and heard about more frequently during this “giving” time of year.

            But here is a story to make my point that happened for no particular reason, at no special time of the year.  It happened because someone cared enough and someone else cared enough to write in and tell me about it.  I hope you enjoy the message behind it, I know our Mayor certainly did; enough so that he asked me to share it in an article.  The Mayor is big on quality customer service, even in government mind you.  He had that philosophy in the private/corporate world and he expects it from our city and staff.  So I am sharing with you a feel good story which happened at no special time of year but is being shared at a very special time of year.  And what impression do you think those young students came away with from the example of that young officer?  Obviously, strong enough for their leader to write in!

            Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, a Safe 2009 for all of you, from all of us who serve and protect!!  God Bless You!!

            About 2 months ago my youth group went to the beach to do some community service and pick up trash along the beach.  We selected Sunny Isles as it was a good middle point for all of us to meet at.  We decided to clean the area from the pier south to Haulover.  While setting up a couple of tables Officer Burns stopped by and began speaking with us.  During that time he politely asked if we could mover our tables off to the side as we were blocking the path were emergency vehicles need to travel.  Of course we did so without any complaining, but one of the things he did which I thought was nice was getting out of his car and helping us move our tables.  Officer Burns then stayed around for a while chatted with kids and was just very friendly to be around.  At one point  while he was patrolling the beach he even gave some of the kids a ride back to were we were as they were carrying giant garbage bags full of trash.

            After dropping the kids off he left the beach and I remember thinking to myself, how blessed we were by God to have such a friendly officer working the beach that day.  About 30 minutes later Officer Burns returned with 3 dozen donuts from Dunkin Donuts, and 5 large jugs of Gatorade.  He asked us to distribute these to the kids, and thank them for making his city so clean.

            I remember our former Youth Pastor Randy begging him to give us your e-mail address because Randy said Sunny Isles “Top Cop” needed to know what a wonderful and generous officer he has working for him.  Officer Burns was insistent that he did not do this to receive any sort of recognition he did it, because “it was just the right thing to do.”  I do not know what the police department procedures are for recognizing an officer who goes out of their way to help a group of kids, but I just thought you should know about the kind act that Officer Burns did.  If you could please pass on all our thanks and blessings to him that would be greatly appreciated.

            God Bless you and the men and women of Sunny Isles Beach Police Department.

            Sincerely,

            Frank Roberts