Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Tim Purdy

A high school student with autism became agitated, seemingly suicidal, and violent. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Tim Purdy responded to the 911 call. Purdy sat down next to the teenager, chatted with him, made him laugh, and then found him the help he needed.

“There’s more to policing than making arrests and enforcing the law,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Sometimes, taking those extra little steps makes the biggest difference in someone’s life.”