Positive stories involving police are rare lately. Thankfully, fishing changed that last week. A recent case of trespassing turned into a chance for bonding between officers and a boy in their neighborhood.
Officer Paul Myers with Columbia, South Carolina’s South Region Police Department recently responded to a trespassing complaint at a home with a pond. According to ColaDaily.com, police found Tyquan, 10, at the home without permission. His diabolical scheme: to fish the pond.
Myers felt sympathetic for the boy and tried to contact the owner to ask them to let the matter slide, but couldn’t reach them.
“I said ‘Keep fishing,” Myers told ColaDaily.
Paul Myers (left) and his new fishing partner, Tyquan. Photo submitted to ColaDaily.com.
A complaint came in again the next day about Tyquan’s fishing. Myers was compelled to stop him this time, but rather than do the minimum required by law, Myers and other officers worked to find Tyquan a place to fish legally.
“I told him I’d find him another place to fish, and that’s what we did,” Myers said. “I’m going to take him from time to time too.”
The new fishing hole is within biking distance of Tyquan’s home. He can fish whenever and as often as he likes.
“He was so respectful,” Myers said of Tyquan, “and his grandmother was very appreciative when I told her that some of the officers and I would like to take him fishing.”
Myers tried to avoid the spotlight, but word spread through the department and eventually appeared on its Facebook page. Myers said he didn’t do it for the glory.
“Any time you’re dealing with kids, whether in the richest neighborhood or the worst ghetto, they’re all the same. They all have that smile,” Myers said. “You’re obligated to help them as a human being.”
Cover image: photo submitted to ColaDaily.com