Good news: Now, this is community policing! A senior gets a police escort to a hair salon
Community policing is a top priority for Murfreesboro, Tennessee PD Officer Lance Hofmeister. So, when he came across an elderly woman seemingly wandering along a busy highway, he was naturally concerned.
“I saw what appeared to be a senior citizen walking down Old Fort parkway, and I just stopped to check on her,” he says. “I didn’t know if she wandered away. I didn’t know if she was lost. I didn’t know what was going on.”
In fact, 84-year-old Elizabeth Goode was perfectly okay. She was simply on her way to an appointment at a hair salon a mile or so up the road.
“She lived in Nashville, but she got a ride from the WeGo bus down to Murfreesboro,” says Officer Hofmeister. “She was trying to get to the Paul Mitchell hair salon studio. I believe they offer discounts or free service for people. So, she was trying to get there.”
Nevertheless, with Elizabeth using a walker, the mile-long journey to the salon would be quite a hike. So, Officer Hofmeister offered to give her a ride in his cruiser.
Watch the video to see community policing at its best, as a senior citizen gets a police escort to her hair appointment.
On route, Elizabeth and Officer Hofmeister got to know each other.
“It almost felt like my own grandmother or something. She was such a sweet soul and told me a couple of stories along the way. It was just great,” says Officer Hofmeister. “I have a special place in my heart for seniors, and it just made me feel good. I think that’s part of what the job is all about. The community-oriented policing like that, I feel like it’s a nice thing to do.”
And Officer Hofmeister's kindness didn't stop at the salon door, as he arranged with a fellow officer to have Elizabeth taken home after her appointment. Though in the end, she got a ride from a fellow customer instead.
