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Livonia police officer honored for helping woman

Posted at 5:34 PM, Apr 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-08 18:14:55-04

A Livonia police officer pulled over a woman who was driving with a flat tire, but he didn't give her ticket.

Livonia officer, Chris McClain, went beyond his duties to help the woman. She thought she was going to be in trouble.

Doneca Reed is a caregiver for HomeInstead serving seniors in Livonia.

She was on the way to a client's home a few weeks ago when her tire blew out.

Reed was able to get to work, but there was no way she would've been able to get home.

She tried to drive to a tire shop on Middlebelt -- doing less than 5 miles an hour. Officer McClain pulled her over after seeing her driving on her rim. Instead of giving her a ticket, he called for a tow truck.

"I don't think there is anything worse than when you are broke down in a car. We've all been there and if you can't help a person at that point, do the right thing? Then when will you do the right thing?" said Officer McClain.

"Can you get it towed over to discount tires?” Reed asked. “As far as towing and getting the tire replaced, I don't have the funds for that. But, I do have one or the other."

That's when the 19-year veteran reached into his wallet to help this stranger in need.

"She was already having a bad enough day. I called Livonia towing and I figured I will cover the towing costs, it's not that much of a big deal."

Not only did Officer McClain pay for the tow truck, he took Reed to the tire shop and stayed with her to make sure it was fixed.

"He asked me why am I crying and I told him because I'm just touched by what you are doing and what you are saying," Reed said.

When Reed's employer heard what happened -- they decided to buy the whole Livonia police department lunch and give the officer a present to say thank you.