Good Samaritans

Paulino Lozano
HPD
James Mantooth called HPD asking for an officer to guard his wife until he could get from his home in Dickinson to her workplace in north Houston to change a flat tire on her car. Five minutes later, Mantooth called his wife to tell her he was on his way.

But there was no need for the trip, Mantooth wrote. Officer Paulino Lozano was changing the tire.

“One of my greatest fears is that something will happen to Taryn during her long commute to work,” Mantooth wrote. “The dedication and professionalism displayed by Officer Lozano should not go unnoticed. Mechanic work is certainly not part of a police officer’s job.”

Shawn Hauptmann, Tim Dickson
Parks & Recreation
Shawn Hauptmann and Tim Dickson rescued Kenya Bell after her car battery died. Hauptmann drove Bell and her son to their car in a golf cart, a ride that her son really enjoyed, Bell wrote. Dickson followed with booster cables.

“It took a few tries before my car started, but they were both patient,” Bell wrote. “The immediate and considerate assistance I received from Shawn and Tim made me feel safe in a frightening situation.”

Frank Elizondo
HPD
His 83-year-old mother was driving late at night when her tire blew out, wrote William Soffar. Officer Frank Elizondo changed the tire and followed his mother home to ensure her safety.

“His conduct is a fine example to others,” Soffar wrote. “My compliments and gratitude to him.”

Robert Jones
Parks & Recreation
Barbara Molinari’s husband gave her the keys to the truck, but not the remote to deactivate the alarm. When it was time to pick up her husband, Molinari tried to start the truck, and the alarm went off.

Robert Jones quickly responded to the alarm, and drove Molinari to the light rail transit station to meet her husband.

“Mr. Jones was my guardian angel,” Molinari wrote.

Richard Murphy
HPD
Her husband’s tire popped when he swerved to avoid a collision with a woman who ran a stop light, wrote Karen Feigley. He had had five bypasses the previous year, and the near miss left him shaken.

Officer Richard Murphy quickly arrived on the scene, Feigley wrote.

Murphy showed concern and professionalism in dealing with both drivers. When AAA didn’t respond to Feigley’s call for service, Murphy changed the tire.

“His outstanding service and calm, professional manner helped all of us,” Feigley wrote.