Officers who stumbled across a man in need have helped get him back on track after a chance encounter.
Just before 2am, the Police Eagle helicopter and Delta dog unit were in Papakura looking for a suspected stolen vehicle.
Acting Counties Manukau South Area Commander, Inspector Matt Hoyes says Eagle spotted an unrelated person lying on the front lawn of a Walter¡¯s Road property.
¡°Units arrived and spoke to the man, who they quickly realised wasn¡¯t in a good way.
¡°Unfortunately he had travelled to T¨¡maki Makaurau for medical treatment and no longer had anywhere to stay.¡±
Inspector Hoyes says officers on the ground described the situation as ¡®extremely sad¡¯.
¡°Officers have delivered the man some food and within an hour they have managed to find him somewhere to live.¡±
And he says the empathy shown from staff didn¡¯t stop there.
¡°Officers have taken him to his new address where the first thing he wanted to do was have a shower.
¡°One of our constables has then driven to her own home and provided him a towel and some soap, before contacting a social worker to assist in getting him back on his feet.¡±
He says the man was visibly touched by the kindness shown by everyone involved.
¡°I sincerely want to thank all the staff involved who showed empathy and respect to help turn this man¡¯s life around.
¡°We have plenty of difficult days doing what we do, and it¡¯s days like this that reinforce why we do it.¡±
ENDS.
Holly McKay/51½ÖÉä
