Credit: The Lakewood Scoop
First published in The Lakewood Scoop on July 15, 2019.
To whom it may concern:
I wanted to express our gratitude and let you know that yesterday our family was the recipient of exceptional service from the Lakewood, NJ police department. Lt. Butterworth of the Lakewood police department went out of his way, above and beyond his duty to extend a service to our family of New Yorkers, jumping in to help us…just because.
We spent a relaxing weekend of fun in the sun with our extended family;
grandparents, children, grandkids. We swam, barbecued and enjoyed each others company in beautiful Lakewood Township.
Our sixteen year old son biked 25 minutes from school to join the family in Ocean County Park. After several hours, we cleaned up after ourselves and headed home, four cars loaded to the max. Our high schooler put on his helmet and started the bike trip back to his dorm.
He called shortly after to report that his brakes had failed and he was standing at an intersection with no means of transportation. We headed back, but were unable to fix the bike and had no room for teen or bike in our full Camry.
The sun was beating, cars were zooming by and we were at loss.
And then Lt. Butterworth drove by in a Suburban emblazoned with “Lakewood Township”.
He saw our New York State plates but that did not deter him. All Lt. Butterworth saw was a citizen in distress. In no time he had the ten-speed loaded into the rear of his vehicle and our son was driven back to school safe and sound in the back seat.
In these challenging times, it was heartwarming to feel this level of service and care from the police department.
Thank you Lt. Butterworth!
Our family pledges to pay this forward. Each and every one of us will keep our eyes open for someone in need and we will do our best to act as Officer Butterworth of Lakewood, NJ… to help out another, just because.
Thank you!
The Friedman Family of
Lakewood, NJ
Jackson, NJ
Brooklyn, NY
Staten Island, NY