Always Ready To Serve, Protect

The night was very cold and there were several inches of snow on the ground. It was not long after midnight when they came. They didn’t have to, but they did anyway, even after I told them not to come. They were concerned for my safety and for those in my home. They came, just to be sure. They are dedicated to their mission: to protect and to serve. They are our men and women of the Bentonville Police Department.

I was on call that night, ready to respond to any problems that might occur to the databases under my watch at the large computer center where I work.

Nothing new, as I have done that for many years. The only thing different was a new phone. It was one of those smart phones, but it was not fool-proof.

When it rang, I was deep in my dreams, but they needed me at my office.

I grabbed the phone and tried to make sense of it.

That’s when I noticed that the phone was dialing, all by itself, the emergency number. Yes, 911. Oops. I was able to stop it before they could answer it. Boy, I’m fast. However, a few seconds later, it rang again, and this time it was the responders from 911. I’m in trouble now.

I explained the situation as best as I could, answering to their insistent inquiries about my well-being and of those in my home. All is well, please excuse me, I said.

I called my office and soon resolved the problem about which they had called me.

Not long after, the doorbell started ringing. I asked my wife not to worry, as I had the feeling it was them. Yes, a young, sharply dressed, fully armed policeman was at my door. I opened immediately, only to face the cold of the night. I asked him to come in and showed him my brand new, smart, but not foolproof, phone.

He mentioned two or three times that they were concerned about my safety and those in my home. My wife, who is a very clever woman, came to my rescue, to confirm that we were all fine, that we called them by mistake.

As the policeman opened the door to leave, I saw another policeman that had been standing in the cold, behind the garage door, ready to act, if needed. After he got a satisfactory answer to his “Is everybody OK?” question, they left.

I’m very thankful to live in a city where its police department is always ready to protect its residents. I appreciate you and respect you. Please keep doing the good work.

My recommendation to everybody is, be assured that if you need them, they will come. They are on our side, but be careful with those “smart” phones.

OCTAVIO SANCHEZ

Bentonville