Officers buy, deliver groceries for disabled veteran

MT. PLEASANT, Tenn. (WKRN) – A group of Mt. Pleasant police officers are being recognized for going out of their way to help an elderly man over the weekend.

Saturday night, the 79-year-old disabled man called dispatchers and said he had not eaten in two days.

A short time later, a group of officers showed up at his door with several bags full of groceries.

The officers had spent $160 out of their own pockets to make sure the man had enough food in his kitchen to last him a month.

“I think he was shocked at the amount of food that we bought and just the fact that it was there without question,” said Nathan Bolton.

A picture of the officers stocking the man’s cabinets was posted on Facebook and the good deed has been shared by people across the country.

“It’s difficult for us to see as police officers. We’re out here to take care of the public at large and that doesn’t always mean stopping a car. Sometimes it’s us doing little things like this,” said Mark Billions.

The police officers have since been praised for going above and beyond the call of duty.

The elderly man, who asked News 2 not to use his name, said he appreciates everything they did to help him.

The man is on a fixed income and relies on his social security benefits each month.

He said he didn’t have any money to buy food because a former caretaker stole his debit card last weekend.

She was arrested by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department Sunday night and has been identified as Tammy Brooks, 36, of Mt. Pleasant.

Police say they have surveillance video showing her using the stolen debit card at various retailers. She is charged with theft and fraudulent use of a debit card. She was booked in the Maury County Jail.

Mt. Pleasant police have started a food pantry to help citizens in situations like these. They are accepting canned food donations at the police department.