Arlington police officers are trained to separate their emotions from the cases they're investigating. But during a recent theft call, Officer Antonia Crutcher learned that's easier said than done.
"We're humans," said Crutcher, who has been with the department for four years. "Sometimes it stays with us."
She came face-to-face with a young boy named Giovani, who told her he watched someone take his bike from Foster Elementary School, where he goes to school.
Crutcher and another officer searched the area but weren't able to find anything. She then had to give Giovani the bad news.
"Seeing that look on Giovani's face just broke my heart," said Crutcher. "It stayed with me. It just constantly stayed with me. I'm a mother. I would never want to see a child's heart broken. They're innocent."
Crutcher talked to her husband and together they decided they needed to do something.
They bought Giovani a new bike and surprised him with it after school.
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"To see that smile on his face melted my heart," said Crutcher. "It was just amazing to see that I could put that smile on that child's face."
They also gave Giovani a bike lock so no one tries to steal his new bike.
This story is part of NBCU’s Season of Kindness. Follow the series on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #ShareKindness
