Good Samaritans

John Williams
Police
After her daughter’s dance competition, Wanda Smith discovered her car had a flat tire. Officer John Williams, working security at the Scottish Rite facility where the car was parked, offered to change the tire in the 100 degree heat, Smith wrote.

Several times, Williams refused the $20 Smith offered him.

“It is officers like these who make the Houston Police Department shine,” she wrote. “My children have always been wary of police officers, but now they realize what wonderful, helpful people they are.”

Tolan Harding
Police
David Armstrong’s front tire popped and his headlight and bumper were severely damaged when a truck trailer hit his truck. Armstrong skidded to a halt on a bridge just before rush hour.

Because he has multiple sclerosis, Armstrong was unable to change the tire. Neither could the man who hit him. As Armstrong was calling for assistance, Sergeant Tolan Harding drove up.

After hearing about Armstrong’s disability, Harding offered to change the tire.

“Sgt. Harding’s actions personifies the department’s principle of enhancing the quality of community life,” Armstrong wrote. “The citizens of Houston should be proud that officers like him are working hard every day to protect and help them.”

Christopher Sellers
Police
Darrell Ford’s truck blew both driver-side tires in heavy traffic on the 610 Loop.

“I have never been in that situation before, with no place to get off the road and having to change tires,” Ford wrote. “I was concerned that I was going to get run over.”

Then Christopher Sellers pulled up behind Ford and turned on his overhead lights, which caused traffic to slow. That made him feel safer, Ford wrote.

Ford told Sellers that he’d called a friend who was bringing a spare tire. Sellers explained they had to call a wrecker, but if the friend arrived before the wrecker, then his truck wouldn’t have to be towed.

When the friend and the wrecker arrived at the same time, Sellers sent the wrecker away and helped Ford change the tire. Within minutes, Ford and the other rush hour drivers were moving smoothly again.

“I so much appreciate the help, support and comfort he was able to convey during a very stressful time,” Ford wrote.

Charles Warren
Police
Tammy Tover’s daughter was injured in an accident in Louisiana, where off-duty Officer Charles Warren was visiting a relative. Warren stopped, rendered aid and comforted Tover’s daughter until help arrived. Then he used his cell phone to call Tover and tell her about the accident.

“Officer Warren was wonderful and a great blessing to our family,” Tover wrote. “He is a great asset to the Houston Police Department.”