Good Samaritans

Kent Winebrenner
Police
Lisa King’s car was stalled on North Shepard for more than an hour when she flagged down Officer Kent Winebrenner.

She was extremely upset because she’d never been in this situation before and no one had stopped to help her, King wrote.

Winebrenner calmed her down and got her focused on the problem. He took her to an auto shop, and then to a money machine after she was told the wrecker wouldn’t take a check.

Then, he drove her to work, King wrote.

“He was kind, caring and, most of all, willing to help when no one else would,” she wrote. “I’m grateful and hope that all the officers at his station are of the same caliber.”

Isidro Perez
Police
Officer Isidrol Perez came to Lena Manazza’s rescue when she had a flat tire on the Gulf Freeway. First he called a wrecker and waited with Manazza.

Then he waited some more.

When the wrecker didn’t show, Perez changed the tire, Manazza said.

“It was a very hot day,” she said. “I want everyone to know what a great thing this wonderful man did.”

Mark Atkinson
Police
Thunderstorms stranded Donna Brawley and 10 family members at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Because all the connecting flights to Charlotte, N.C., were canceled, the family had to find shelter for the night, Brawley wrote.

But they weren’t the only ones with that need. By the time they checked into getting a room, all the hotels were booked. So Brawley asked Officer Mark Atkinson if he had any ideas where they might find lodging, particularly somewhere comfortable for her 90-year-old mother.

Atkinson took the family to a quieter, more comfortable room to wait out the night, Brawley wrote. Then he found for a singe hotel room for her mother.

Before leaving, Atkinson made sure the family had food and any medical care they needed.

“Officer Atkinson should be commended for his willingness to go far beyond his call of duty or what the public might expect of a police officer,” Brawley wrote. “He was outstandingly kind to us.”