An officer's act of kindness: Kenny gets a new bike

Georgetown, S.C. (WPDE) — A Georgetown man has a big smile on his face and it is all thanks to a police officer. The officer's small act of kindness has made a big impact on his life.

"We have to have a good, working relationship with our community," said Georgetown Police Sergeant Shannon Burbage.

Burbage says being a police officer is about more than just arresting people.

"We are the police, mentors, preachers, mediators, marriage counselors. Whatever we can possibly be at the moment, we are everything," she says.

For her, it is people like 25-year-old Kenny Johnson that make her job worthwhile.

"He's very quiet. He gets excited over little things. I don't know. He's just Kenny," says Burbage.

When asked if Burbage is a good police officer, Johnson responds, "Yeah. She's pretty good. She's pretty good."

And Johnson has a brand new bicycle, all thanks to Shannon.

"His family works really really hard. They've had a lot of hard times come upon them in the past year or so. And Kenny rides his bike to work every day. Doesn't matter the weather or anything. He rides his bike and he's never late," says Burbage.

Kenny has not had the best of luck with bicycles.

Burbage was the responding officer when his bicycle was stolen last week.

"Oh man, this family can not just catch a break," she says.

It was then she found out the bike before that was run over by a delivery truck.

Burbage knew she had to help.

"I'm happy I got a new bike," says Johnson.

Burbage says she did not get him the bike for attention, but to show Kenny and the community, cops are people too.

"I've been through hard times. I'm a human being. I'll help you out any way that I can," says Burbage.

She also wants to show a small act of kindness can go a long way.

She also wants to give credit to Wal-Mart. Workers at the store let her pick out Kenny's bike free of charge.