There was a lot of traffic, people were rushing around, and the pavement was really hot, just like any other day in Coral Springs, Florida. But all changed in a flash as three cars got in the way of traffic. Sirens went off, emergency vehicles showed up, and the air was thick with panic as drivers and bystanders congregated, scared and not sure what to do.
One of the people that helped was Officer Bryan Dougherty, who is on the Coral Springs Police Department’s elite SWAT unit. People knew he could handle a lot of stress, thus he probably had to deal with a lot of emergencies at work. But on this day, what stood out wasn’t his tactical preparation; it was something far softer and more real.
A young kid stood off to the side, trying not to cry, as police officers gathered statements and paramedics looked for injuries. His mom was visibly upset and talking to the first responders. They were divided between trying to explain what had happened and trying to make their child feel better. Officer Dougherty could see how unhappy the kid was and how alone he was in the middle of all the activity at this very sensitive time.
Dougherty didn’t just pass by; he walked over.
He didn’t say anything, but he carefully lowered himself to the ground and sat next to the child on the scorching tarmac with his legs crossed. There was no big gesture or attempt to “fix” anything; all that was needed was to be there. Just being there clearly and softly. In the middle of them was a toy fire truck. It was simple, but strong enough to help them get from shock to comfort. It didn’t matter if Dougherty had the item with him or if it belonged to the youngster. What mattered was what it meant at the time: safety, fun, and making friends.
He started talking to the boy in a nice way and asked him which Disney characters he enjoyed the most. They talked and joked for a while, and the boy’s dread went away. There were still flashing lights and loud voices all around them, but this one portion of the crash site changed into a peaceful place of kindness made by a police officer who knew that being brave often means being kind.
Janet Balestriero, a woman from the region, saw everything happen. She was so struck by what she saw that she quickly shot a picture, not to use it, but to remember it. Later, she posted the picture on the Facebook site of the Coral Springs Police Department with a simple, honest comment that said, “It was an act of kindness.” In this crazy world, I strive to do small acts of kindness every day.
The post really hit home. It garnered a lot of likes, comments, and shares on social media quite quickly. People from all across the country wrote to thank Officer Dougherty for his service as a police officer and as a good person who was there when it mattered most.
Coral Springs Police Chief Clyde Parry also spoke up, stating, “I’m so proud of our officers.” These incidents happen all the time, but the news doesn’t cover them very often. On a larger scale, his views were true: police officers are often kind and understanding in situations that don’t make the news, which shows the heart behind the badge.
Janet is part of the Kindness Rock Project, a grassroots effort in which people paint rocks with art or slogans that encourage others and leave them in public places. She told her group about the encounter because it impressed her so much. Officer Dougherty did something that moved one individual so much that she painted a Disney character and his badge number on a rock. This meeting was a modest gesture to honor a man whose kindness made a scary situation better.
This story is different since none of the people involved wanted to be noticed or praised. Officer Dougherty had no idea that someone was taking a picture. He didn’t want anyone else to see him. He observed a kid who needed help and did what he thought would help at the time. It was not rules, but instinct.
Fortunately, no one was hurt badly in the event. But the emotional effects lasted a long time for the families concerned and for everyone who saw the picture that is now renowned.
A fully outfitted SWAT officer sits cross-legged on the ground next to a scared little boy and doesn’t move, cutting through the noise of everyday life. It reminds us that being brave doesn’t always mean doing anything big. Sometimes the best thing to do is just sit down and be there.
When the world moves quickly and seems divided, times like today urge us to stop and think about what really important. There will be no police reports about what Officer Dougherty did, and it might not even be in the news. But that boy and everyone else who saw the picture will never forget that moment.
And maybe that’s what being a hero really means: not just the big things you accomplish, but also the little things you do that come from the heart.
