Act of kindness by Saskatoon police officer gets social media attention

A post on Facebook about a Saskatoon police officer who helped a man in distress is getting a lot of positive reaction from the public.

The senior officer who posted the story says he just wanted to give people a glimpse of some of the situations police are in every day and how most officers respond with kindness and compassion.

Insp. Cam McBride told Gormley guest host Mike Couros he was driving home from work in the duty officer’s vehicle a few weeks ago when he heard a call on his police radio about an adult male who had fled from a care home.

McBride said he listened as two social workers were trying to catch the man whom he described as having significant disabilities.

McBride said he drove to the scene where he saw the man running through a parking lot at Attridge Drive and McOrmond Drive. McBride said as he approached, he could see the social workers who were trying to get to the man were looking exhausted and shaken.

He said it was a potentially dangerous situation.

“I saw him rush into rush-hour traffic and was able to use my vehicle to block traffic and just after I did that, a patrol car comes up behind me, and it was one of those circumstances where it was something that I witness every day and I have witnessed many times in the course of my career, but it just really struck me as the officer stepped out and extended his hand and just this demonstration of genuine care and concern for the individual,” said McBride.

“And he ran right up to the police officer and the officer was able to wrap his arm around this guy and sit with him on the grass and just talk while his care provider caught up.”

McBride said he is not sharing the story for any accolades but does say that sometimes police officers are not appreciated for the type of work they do.

“Our members, for the most part, put their heart and souls into the work they do and they take great pride in working with and being part of the community,” McBride said.

McBride said it’s a difficult job and letting people know sometimes what police officers go through and the type of work they do and the pride they take in it goes a long way.