4-year-old called 911 to share his passion for soccer— the officers showed up to his doorstep with a heartfelt surprise
Dispatchers who are on the line attending to 911 calls expect emergencies and the need for quick action. They are well-prepared to deal with anything the caller shares with them. A 4-year-old boy named Micah left dispatchers confused with his unusual call, per Click on Detroit. While the officers thought they would be tending to a crime, the boy was simply interested in sharing his love for football. They even went to conduct a check to ensure the boy was really alright. The impromptu meeting turned into something wholly eventful that would leave a mark for a lifetime.
The young caller started chatting with the dispatchers after dialing 911. He shared his love for the sport, which the dispatcher didn’t mind at all, per TODAY. In a post shared by the Farmington Hills Police Department, it was revealed that Officer El-Hage responded to the call and took two patrol units to check on the child. There, they found Mitch and Micah, two boys with a fun curiosity. They decided to give the duo an experience to remember and so gave them the opportunity to check out the patrolling vehicles. In the banter, the officers learned that Mitch was celebrating his seventh birthday the next day.
As soon as he learned that bit of information, there was a change of plans. The officer knew he had to do something special. After spending a while with the kids, he casually told them that he'd see them tomorrow. He never mentioned what the plan would be, as he didn’t want to disappoint them in case the team was busy. When the next day arrived, the kids were stoked to see the officers return, this time with a new soccer net, ready for a game. They played with the young boys, who were filled with excitement. A celebration taken up a notch, thanks to the kindness exhibited by the officers. The post also captured a group picture of the team with the two boys.
Officer El-Hage had a simple reason behind the impromptu plan. “I just did it for the kids, honestly. I just see my son there, so being a dad, I think every day I can understand that, that’s what it’s about for me,” he noted. It was a delight for the officers to spend their time making a difference, just in a slightly different manner. "Turning a small mistake into a moment of connection is what community policing is all about. Great job, day shift,” the post read. Speaking of the 911 call turned into a fun one, the officer added, "While accidental 911 calls do happen, we always want kids to feel safe and comfortable reaching out to us.”
Several people appreciated the time the officers took to make a core memory for the kids. @alexandrarosariotrade wrote, “This was a very nice and heartwarming gesture. We need more of these in today's world.” @nschindl added, “Awesome participation!” A firefighter who goes by @realestatefirsresponder remarked, “This post really does capture the true spirit of what I’ve seen from the men and women of FHPD. I can honestly say I’m proud to live and work in a community policed by our professional officers!”
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