It was an ordinary afternoon when Officer Andrew Spottswood received a call about a stolen wallet. For most, it might have been a routine report — another small crime in a long day’s work. But what he didn’t know was that this simple call would lead to an extraordinary act of compassion that would touch hearts far beyond that moment.
The victim was a 75-year-old man, frail and weary, who stood waiting with sadness in his eyes. His wallet — and with it, a small piece of his independence — had been stolen. Inside had been his identification, his bus pass, and his only debit card. He told Officer Spottswood that he had no family, no car, and nowhere to turn. Without his ID or bus pass, even simple things — getting groceries, going to the doctor, or withdrawing money — had suddenly become impossible.
Officer Spottswood could have simply taken the report, written down the details, and moved on to his next call. But something in the old man’s quiet desperation stopped him. Maybe it was the way he tried to stay composed, or the loneliness in his voice when he said he had no one else to help. Whatever it was, Officer Spottswood decided that this man would not be left stranded.
So, he did something few would take the time to do.
He told the man to get in his patrol car.
Their first stop was the DMV, where they waited in line to get a replacement ID. When they reached the counter, the clerk asked for the $13 replacement fee. The man looked down, embarrassed, and quietly admitted that he didn’t have the money. Without hesitation, Officer Spottswood reached into his own wallet to pay for it. But before he could hand the clerk the cash, she paused — and, moved by what she saw — waived the fee.
It was a small miracle born out of kindness meeting kindness.
But Officer Spottswood didn’t stop there. Next, he drove the man to his bank, where he helped him get a replacement debit card so he could access his funds again. Then he took him to the CATS Station, where the man received a new bus pass — his lifeline to the city.
Hours had passed by this point. The man was visibly tired, his face lined with exhaustion. When Officer Spottswood asked if he’d eaten, the man shook his head. So, without a word, the officer drove him to get something to eat — a simple meal that meant far more than food. For the first time that day, the man smiled.
He had lost his wallet, but he had found something else: compassion.
Officer Spottswood never told anyone what he’d done. He didn’t post about it, didn’t boast, didn’t even mention it at work. To him, it was just the right thing to do — part of the quiet duty of caring for the people he served.
But a few days later, the elderly man called the police department, asking to speak to a supervisor. His voice trembled with gratitude as he shared the story of what Officer Spottswood had done. That’s how the department — and eventually, the entire community — learned about his selfless act.
This week, Officer Andrew Spottswood was honored with a CMPD Acts of Excellence Award, recognizing his compassion and humanity. Yet, if you were to ask him, he would probably just smile and say he didn’t do anything special — that he simply did what anyone should do.
But we know better.
In a world that can often feel rushed and indifferent, small acts of kindness like his remind us that there is still goodness all around us — quiet, steadfast, and deeply human.
So here’s to Officer Spottswood, and to every person who chooses empathy over apathy, service over convenience, and heart over habit.
Because sometimes, the greatest heroes are the ones who never seek the spotlight — the ones who simply do good when no one is watching.
