Well done!
(And well written, too!)
(And well written, too!)
250th Happy Meal
- Thread starter Faulkner
- Start date
Stu1205
Member
Faulkner, God Bless your for your kindness and compassion.
Let's look forward to the day when you will never have to buy another happy meal for a starving abused child.
Thank you for that wonderful story.
Stu
Let's look forward to the day when you will never have to buy another happy meal for a starving abused child.
Thank you for that wonderful story.
Stu
venomballistics
Member
may you make it to retirement, grow old and regret little
COL Jagdog
Member
Someone needs to let the folks at McDonald's know about this story -
(at a minimum, they should make you a McDonald's Ambassador)
it certainly captures the core dynamic of the human condition:
lending support to your fellow man.
A remarkable story for the times we live in.
(at a minimum, they should make you a McDonald's Ambassador)
it certainly captures the core dynamic of the human condition:
lending support to your fellow man.
A remarkable story for the times we live in.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
I second that.
keith44spl
Member
I've said it before and I'll say it again.........
Candidate for "Officer Of The Year"
Faulkner,
We're all proud of what you stand for!
Su Amigo,
Dave
.
Candidate for "Officer Of The Year"
Faulkner,
We're all proud of what you stand for!
Su Amigo,
Dave
.
OP
Faulkner
Member
I'm neither pro nor anti McDonald's, or any other fast food restaurant in our county. Fact is, their drive thru usually stays open the latest and is convenient on my way to the sheriff's office. To the credit of the local McDonald's, they have at times offered to give me Happy Meals for free when I've gone through the drive thru with a youngster in the patrol car. I have always turned them down with a 'no, but thank you'.
I didn't share this particular story with the intention of it focusing on me or even McDonald's Happy Meals, but to share a story about every day law enforcement as I suspect it actually is in most jurisdictions, in a more positive light, the way I see law enforcement. Making positive impressions with the people we encounter and helping the people the best we can with the tools at our disposal.
We all see forum posts and read the stories over and over how some guy hates this cop or that department or all cops because of ONE traffic stop that didn't go to his liking, whether his treatment was legitimate or not. This ONE encounter has tainted his opinion for life. Some people will blame the cops for their misfortunes when a cop catches them when it’s through their own actions that got them in hot water to begin with.
Heaven knows, don’t all of you think of me as the cop with the halo, it isn’t so. I’ve had bad experiences with the public and I’ve made my share of what turned out to be bad decisions. Most of those decisions were made when I had mere seconds to make them, while everyone else involved had days, weeks, or even months to analyze my decisions after the fact. That’s part of the job. But my vision of a cop’s duty is to try and help those we encounter on the job who need help. I hope that buying a few Happy Meals will have a positive effect on these kid’s opinions of cops, it may be the only time they ever encounter one us. My mother always told me, “you’re going to leave an impression whether you like it or not, try to make it a good one.”
Last edited:
DustyJacket
Member
Good for you.
Tough to think about the kiddos going hungry while Mom and her latest squeeze are out buying drugs, the (bums).
Tough to think about the kiddos going hungry while Mom and her latest squeeze are out buying drugs, the (bums).
OP
Faulkner
Member
Well, I hit 260. I bought seven in one shift last week after a late night car accident. Drunk hit a church van on it's way back from a youth trip to the lake. Both adults in the church van were transported to the hospital but weren't injured too badly. The seven kids ranged from 6 to 10 years old.
This was the single biggest Happy Meal purchase I've done on duty.
This was the single biggest Happy Meal purchase I've done on duty.
You're a good man. I hope your coworkers are taking note.
OldsRocket
Member
So here I am browsing the board. I just joined a little while ago. Haven't even bought my first firearm yet. I come across this story and I have to make my first post here.
Deputy Faulkner good job. I hope every one of those Happy Meals changed the person they were bought for in one way or another for the good. Thank you for your service sir.
Deputy Faulkner good job. I hope every one of those Happy Meals changed the person they were bought for in one way or another for the good. Thank you for your service sir.
Deputy Faulkner, you personify the type of person I would imagine the great majority of law enforcement officers aspire to be early in their career. Guys make mistakes, sometimes things go wrong, but you always have to remain positive and try to help others, even when they make poor decisions. The few officers that get off track, and forget their goals to protect the general populous give a bad representation of the vast majority of genuine good hearted folks who wear the badge. I envy you guys, I sometimes wish I would have pursued a LEO career. I think I would have enjoyed it, most days.
Memphiscbrider
Member
Pretty cool story man. Glad to see not all cops are selfish
Autococker07
US Veteran
Dude, thats very cool. I bet Adam and many others have grown up much better than had they had not met you. Bravo Sir.
mc5aw
Member
I don't know how I missed this thread for the past month.
I'll echo previously posted sentiments by saying, Deputy Faulkner ... you sir, are a good and decent human being, and a fine officer. Thank you for your service to your community, and to your fellow man.
I'll echo previously posted sentiments by saying, Deputy Faulkner ... you sir, are a good and decent human being, and a fine officer. Thank you for your service to your community, and to your fellow man.
Chik a Boom
Member
Ditto. I was deeply moved and ached for that 6 year old and all little ones who are so neglected. Thanks for being a shining light.
Straightshooter2
US Veteran
I missed this when it was first posted as I was off the board for about a week.
Faulkner, mistakes and all, what comes to mind when I read this is part of a line from the theme song of my favorite western.
Vest aside, you are truly, "A Knight without armor..."
CW
Faulkner, mistakes and all, what comes to mind when I read this is part of a line from the theme song of my favorite western.
Vest aside, you are truly, "A Knight without armor..."
CW
Last edited:
OP
Faulkner
Member
I logged Happy Meal number 275 in my field notebook last night, only it was not for a kid but a full grown adult.
The Ozarks have been hit pretty hard with the sleet and freezing rain in this latest Arctic storm that has passed through. The roads have been especially slick and dangerous and although my co-workers and I have been out responding to calls as needed it's certainly been slow going on these slick roads. Fortunately, most folks are heeding the "stay off the roads" warnings and traffic has been very light.
As I'm heading north in my patrol car on a US highway at about 25 MPH I noticed a pedestrian on the shoulder all bundled up and walking north as well. As I eased up close to him I look north and south and see no other traffic on the highway and decided to check and see if this guy was okay.
"Unit 4 to S.O., I'm going to be out with a pedestrian near Ridge Road."
"10-4 Unit 4"
I pulled ahead of the guy and stopped, checked for traffic again, and as I stepped out of the patrol car I glanced at the outside temperature on the dash . . . 24 degrees!
I hung on to the side of my car as I kinda slipped around to the back as the guy walked up.
"Hey buddy, you okay?" I asked
"Yes sir." He was dressed in camo, which is certainly not uncommon in these parts, especially in winter when most of the warmest clothes men own is their hunting gear. As I talked to the guy, though, I had this picture flash through my mind of the movie "First Blood" and the first encounter with John Rambo. This guy was in his late 20's and didn't seem to be in any kind of distress from the cold.
"I'm just checking on you, it's pretty cold out for a walk."
"Yes sir it is. Power is out at my place and the battery in my truck died and won't start. I'm heading to a friend’s house hoping he has power and heat."
I asked him where his friend lived and it was about 7 or 8 miles from where we were standing on the side of the highway, and I found out he'd already walked about 5 miles on this sleet and ice.
"Wow, that's a pretty good hike for a cold day like this." I told him.
"I did hikes a lot longer and some just as cold when I was in Afghanistan."
"How about a ride, I'm going up that way."
"I don't want to be a bother, sir. I can make it."
"What would be a bother is if I have to come back and do an accident report because some idiot in a car ran over you as you are walking on the side of the road. Look, I'm not going to hassle you, I'm just offering you a ride."
He looked me over a good 10 seconds thinking about the offer, "Okay, thanks."
I got on the radio to dispatch, "Unit 4 to S.O., I'm going to be 10-14 (passenger) one time, white male. I'll advise where I drop him off."
"10-4 Unit 4"
He took off his backpack and placed it in the backseat and we both got in the front. I put the patrol car in gear and she slipped around before we actually got some traction and started moving up the road at a snail’s pace.
Now, there are no McDonald's in this rural part of the county, but there is a Subway Sandwich Shop in a small down that we pass through and I was getting hungry. Because of the bad weather most places where shut down but I was hoping Subway was open, and sure enough they were.
We had been riding in the car about 15 minutes without speaking when I asked, "How about a sandwich?"
"Officer, I'm flat broke. So if you'll just take me to my friend’s house or let me out I'll be just fine."
I smiled and said, "Hey buddy, here's the deal. Subway gives me a discount when I'm on duty so I can grab me and you both a sandwich for a little of nothing. It's not that big a deal and I may not get back to civilization on my shift to get something to eat. How about it, it's on me."
He looked over at me and said, "You are the strangest cop I've ever met."
"Hang around a lot of cops do you?"
"No, not particularly."
I laughed and said, "Then you really don't know how strange we can be sometimes."
I pulled into Subway and we went in, ordered sandwiches, and sat down and ate. He actually started to open up a bit and I found out he'd been back in country only about 3 months. He was having a tough time finding steady work and the friend I was taking him to was a buddy he'd meet in the Army.
After we finished up we slipped our way across the parking lot back to the car, then proceeded slowly to his friend’s house which took about 20 minutes. As I pulled in the driveway and stopped he looked over at me and held out his hand.
"Hey, I really appreciate the ride and the sandwich. I was concerned when you pulled up out on the highway you were going to hassle me or something."
"I was just concerned about you freezing to death out on the side of the highway, buddy."
As he got his gear out of the back his friend came out on the porch and I heard him ask, "Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"No," he replied, "this guy gave me a ride and kept me from freezing my butt off."
I went ahead and logged it as Happy Meal #275.
The Ozarks have been hit pretty hard with the sleet and freezing rain in this latest Arctic storm that has passed through. The roads have been especially slick and dangerous and although my co-workers and I have been out responding to calls as needed it's certainly been slow going on these slick roads. Fortunately, most folks are heeding the "stay off the roads" warnings and traffic has been very light.
As I'm heading north in my patrol car on a US highway at about 25 MPH I noticed a pedestrian on the shoulder all bundled up and walking north as well. As I eased up close to him I look north and south and see no other traffic on the highway and decided to check and see if this guy was okay.
"Unit 4 to S.O., I'm going to be out with a pedestrian near Ridge Road."
"10-4 Unit 4"
I pulled ahead of the guy and stopped, checked for traffic again, and as I stepped out of the patrol car I glanced at the outside temperature on the dash . . . 24 degrees!
I hung on to the side of my car as I kinda slipped around to the back as the guy walked up.
"Hey buddy, you okay?" I asked
"Yes sir." He was dressed in camo, which is certainly not uncommon in these parts, especially in winter when most of the warmest clothes men own is their hunting gear. As I talked to the guy, though, I had this picture flash through my mind of the movie "First Blood" and the first encounter with John Rambo. This guy was in his late 20's and didn't seem to be in any kind of distress from the cold.
"I'm just checking on you, it's pretty cold out for a walk."
"Yes sir it is. Power is out at my place and the battery in my truck died and won't start. I'm heading to a friend’s house hoping he has power and heat."
I asked him where his friend lived and it was about 7 or 8 miles from where we were standing on the side of the highway, and I found out he'd already walked about 5 miles on this sleet and ice.
"Wow, that's a pretty good hike for a cold day like this." I told him.
"I did hikes a lot longer and some just as cold when I was in Afghanistan."
"How about a ride, I'm going up that way."
"I don't want to be a bother, sir. I can make it."
"What would be a bother is if I have to come back and do an accident report because some idiot in a car ran over you as you are walking on the side of the road. Look, I'm not going to hassle you, I'm just offering you a ride."
He looked me over a good 10 seconds thinking about the offer, "Okay, thanks."
I got on the radio to dispatch, "Unit 4 to S.O., I'm going to be 10-14 (passenger) one time, white male. I'll advise where I drop him off."
"10-4 Unit 4"
He took off his backpack and placed it in the backseat and we both got in the front. I put the patrol car in gear and she slipped around before we actually got some traction and started moving up the road at a snail’s pace.
Now, there are no McDonald's in this rural part of the county, but there is a Subway Sandwich Shop in a small down that we pass through and I was getting hungry. Because of the bad weather most places where shut down but I was hoping Subway was open, and sure enough they were.
We had been riding in the car about 15 minutes without speaking when I asked, "How about a sandwich?"
"Officer, I'm flat broke. So if you'll just take me to my friend’s house or let me out I'll be just fine."
I smiled and said, "Hey buddy, here's the deal. Subway gives me a discount when I'm on duty so I can grab me and you both a sandwich for a little of nothing. It's not that big a deal and I may not get back to civilization on my shift to get something to eat. How about it, it's on me."
He looked over at me and said, "You are the strangest cop I've ever met."
"Hang around a lot of cops do you?"
"No, not particularly."
I laughed and said, "Then you really don't know how strange we can be sometimes."
I pulled into Subway and we went in, ordered sandwiches, and sat down and ate. He actually started to open up a bit and I found out he'd been back in country only about 3 months. He was having a tough time finding steady work and the friend I was taking him to was a buddy he'd meet in the Army.
After we finished up we slipped our way across the parking lot back to the car, then proceeded slowly to his friend’s house which took about 20 minutes. As I pulled in the driveway and stopped he looked over at me and held out his hand.
"Hey, I really appreciate the ride and the sandwich. I was concerned when you pulled up out on the highway you were going to hassle me or something."
"I was just concerned about you freezing to death out on the side of the highway, buddy."
As he got his gear out of the back his friend came out on the porch and I heard him ask, "Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"No," he replied, "this guy gave me a ride and kept me from freezing my butt off."
I went ahead and logged it as Happy Meal #275.
Last edited:
Well Faulkner you continue to make us Arkies proud! Keep up the good work.
Mark
Mark
Similar threads
