When a Chicago police officer found a lost wallet one Friday in late February, he could have simply dropped it off at the station for the owner to collect. He didn’t have to cut time out of his weekend to drive 2 hours to return it to its rightful owner.
But that’s what he did.
“I opened it up, saw a couple of kids’ pictures in the bifold, a lot of credit cards, some money, and a driver’s license,” he said.
Officer Buckley noted that the man lived in Plymouth, Indiana, a 2-hour drive from the Windy City.
It would’ve been easy enough for him to simply turn the wallet in and enjoy his weekend off.
But instead, he got in the car the next morning and drove all the way to Plymouth to find one John Barron, the wallet’s rightful owner.
Barron’s family heard a knock on the front door and were shocked to find the off-duty police officer standing on their front doorstep.
“I just kept saying, ‘You really drove this over here?’” Barron said. “I kind of teared up. I’m an emotional guy anyway. In the world we live in today, you don’t hear about people doing these things.”
He added, “I may never talk to [Officer Buckley] again, but I’ll never forget it.”
Barron, a local coach and teacher, had visited Chicago on Friday to pick up his 2-year-old grandson at the boy’s home near the Chicago Police Academy. Somewhere in the process, he had misplaced his wallet.
Meredith Ann, Barron’s daughter, told The Epoch Times that the police officer’s act of kindness was a nice change to the negativity that seems to be bombarding the world lately.
“I think we can all agree that this past year has been extremely challenging,” she said. “Definitely needed this reminder that there are still good humans all around us.”
Barron tried to offer gas money, but the officer refused. Instead, he asked the family to “pay it forward to someone else.”
The grateful grandfather says he’s already doing just that, using his free time to volunteer at a local hospital.
“I’m glad he’s wearing the blue,” Barron said, referring to Officer Buckley. “That’s the kind of person you want serving and protecting us.”
