A family was left stranded after their car broke down near the edge of Arcola over the weekend but thanks to a police officer’s kindness, it has led to a chain of good deeds for their family.
Police officer intervenes
Officer Chandler Jaques was at a gas station to fill up his squad car when he says, “I saw this guy and his two kids were sitting there.” The family was stuck because their truck broke down on Route 45 just outside of town. he immediately stopped what he was doing to check on them. He says he asked them, “Hey man, is there anything I can do for you guys, do you need help with anything?” They needed a way to get home to Dieterich.
Act of kindness
As the distance from Arcola to Dieterich was 46 miles, which means it would be a 50-minute drive and would have cost $250 dollars to take a taxi there. Jaques wanted to help the distraught family out and so he offered to give them a ride when his shift was over. He went back to their truck to get their belongings and the car seat and when he came back to pick them up, someone else had offered to give them a ride.
With 30 minutes left on his shift, he used it to load up the good Samaritan’s car and the family got on the road home. Jaques said, “If there’s an opportunity for me to be compassionate, I don’t really think anything of it. I don’t think I did anything special by offering these people a ride. I just wanted to help somebody out.”
His act of kindness was recognized by the Arcola Police Chief when the station got a call thanking him for the kindness he showed that day. Jacques has been working with Arcola Police for about four years and is moving on with his career and his last day on the job will be this Wednesday.
