That Time A White Police Officer Changed My Tire

While perusing the internet this weekend I came across Chicago Suntimes writer, Mary Mitchell’s, article “A Happy Surprise When I Got Pulled Over By a White Cop”, I couldn’t help but to reminisce about my similar experience.

It was the night before my brother-in-laws wedding. I was headed to his soon to be bride’s bachelorette party in the burbs. I picked up my sister from her South Shore apartment here in Chicago and we began our long journey to Oak Forest.

I saw an object that appeared to be white in the street on 159th Cicero. I tried to swerve around it, but I was too late. We heard a loud thump and my tire went flat immediately. I slowly gassed the car to the nearest residential street, pulled over, and put on my hazards. I called my husband, but there was little he could do. He was with his brother on the other side of town. I honestly didn’t want my husband to save the day this time, because it was the night before his only brother’s wedding. They were celebrating this special moment. I didn’t want to disturb that, so I attempted to change the tire myself.

My sister and I rummaged through my trunk searching for tools we didn’t know the name of with the exception of donut. I even pulled up a tutorial on YouTube about changing tires. We were determined.

It wasn’t long before a police officer pulled up. I was nervous. I spent many days crying over the death of Sandra Bland. I understood that DWB (Driving While Black) is a legit felony in America. And although my sister and I are both under 5’3 and couldn’t burst a grape in a fruit fight, we could still be perceived as dangerous.

Officer De la Cuz walked over and asked us what happened. Without question he proceeded to change my tire. Another car pulled up. The name of this officer was Officer O’Donnell. They both took turns to replace my tire.

I had to snap a picture in action. With so much going on in the world, I had to let the world (Facebook) know there are good cops out there. The picture went viral and was even shared by Fox’s 32 Anita Padilla Facebook page.

One of the officer’s wife reached out to me about having dinner. We’ve yet to make that happen. However, I want to publicly thank them for their service and encourage them to continue to restore hope in the police.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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Tanikia Carpenter

Tanikia is a lifestyle writer & blogger from Chicago. Her work has been featured on the TLC network, ESSENCE, and Huff Post LIVE, just to name a few. Tanikia is a regular contributor to Black & Married With Kids and the columnist of JET Magazine's "Giving You the Gospel". She is also the author of "When God Said Yes" & "The 30 Day Man Fast".