When 81-year-old Roberta didn’t come back from her daily stroll down her driveway in Charles County, Maryland home, her daughter became very worried. Roberta and her daughter live together,and when her daughter realized her mother had been gone far too long, she called 911. Her daughter informed officers that her mother had dementia. About 40 minutes later, a small team of officers found Roberta walking along a wooded path near her home.
So as not to embarrass the sweet lady, they pretended to be out for a walk too. Officer Morrison was captured walking hand in hand with his new friend Roberta while he gently led her home.
The Charles Country Sheriff’s Office posted the photo and caption below.
“We often talk about the rewards of police work. On Friday, we captured a moment.
Officers responded to a 911 call from a woman who reported her 81-year-old mother missing. It seems her mother left her house to take her daily walk up and down the driveway, but when she didn’t return, things got a bit scary because the woman’s mother has dementia.
Officers P. DeBoe, C. Caywood, B. Morrison, Sgt. C. Black, and Cpl. C. Clevenger and his K9 partner responded to the scene and began a search of the heavily wooded area.
After 40 minutes, the woman was found.
At first, she seemed confused at the sudden appearance of police officers on the tree-lined trail, and she asked if the officers were out taking a walk too. They quietly replied ‘Yes,’ after all, it was a beautiful day. And then she seemed relieved and told them she had lost her way. ‘No problem,’ said Officer Morrison who then gently took her hand and, along with the other officers walked her back to her house.
Along the way, the officers made small talk with the woman, to make her feel at ease. When asked what the key to a long, healthy life was, the woman replied, ‘Eat good and stay active.’
Officers encounter different situations every day. Some good, some not so good. In this case, a frightening situation for the family ended happily. For that, they were thankful. For us, it’s the rewarding part of policing.”
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