Posted on 02/05/2010 9:24:24 PM PST by ellery
Bozeman Police Officer Marek Ziegler was called to Van’s IGA last Friday night to check on a shoplifting report.
The 33-year-old officer has been on the Bozeman force for three years. He is a K-9 handler and works nights, from about 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
When he got to the grocery store on North Seventh Avenue, employees told Ziegler that a 32-year-old man had stuffed food and “pens, pencils, maybe markers, things for his kids” into his coat.
The officer arrested the man, cited him for theft and then released him.
But the story didn’t end there.
Ziegler had asked the man why he had been stealing.
“He was really upset,” Ziegler said this week. “Basically, he told me he’s having a hard time and can’t provide the food for his family right now, so that’s why he was stealing.”
Ziegler already had the man’s address, but asked for the man’s phone number.
“I told him, ‘Give me 15 minutes,’ and I went and got him some food.”
Ziegler ran to Wal-Mart, picked up a few frozen pizzas and delivered them to the man’s house.
“Obviously, as a police officer, I have a job to do, but we’re still human, too,” Ziegler said.
When the officer handed over the food, the man shook his hand and thanked him for understanding, Ziegler said.
And then Ziegler kept the story to himself.
However, a Chronicle reporter was at the 911 dispatch center that night. She overheard tidbits of the officer’s report that he was going to buy the man some food. The Chronicle sought out the story. Ziegler wasn’t seeking attention for his good deed.
“These guys, they just don’t really brag about things like that,” Acting Police Chief Marty Kent said. “It wouldn’t surprise me that he wouldn’t say anything.”
Ziegler shrugged off the idea that he had done something out of the ordinary.
“It’s just what we do to take care of each other,” he said.
DId I say one word against the officer? Or am I complaining about theft?
No stealing is not the answer. I was just pointing out that many fall thru the cracks.
Boy, your name suits you! I didn't say you said anything against the officer. I explained how some people are genuinely bad off. And, you were complaining about people who supposedly have food, who steal. That is not always true, as I tried to present it.
Still you maybe right.
I note that he had a working phone. Since phone is the first thing cut off if you don't pay the bill either his priorities are out of order or there is something missing from the story.
Stealing pens?? Or Markers? For the kiddies?
Hmmmm
A reporter happens to be in dispatch while the officer broadcasted that he was purchasing items for the suspect...
Hmmm...
No, he didn't.
I bet it made you feel good to tell us that.
He told his dispatcher he was taking time to go pick up some groceries for the guy. That’s just explaining his whereabouts to his employer.
The media reporter in the 911 dispatch office is the one who blabbed it.
Kudos to this good officer.
She overheard tidbits of the officer’s report that he was going to buy the man some food.
She "overheard"? Would that not mean the officer broadcasted what he was doing over the radio?
Why would someone concerned about feeding their family steal pens, pencils, and "maybe markers"?...
Why the story state, "Maybe markers"?
Did ya note the reporter, that was allegedly hanging around the 911 dispact center was not named?
Did ya note the thief was never named either?
“But, there are alot of working poor who are not eligible for services. Maybe they make just enough to get by, but God forbid the car breaks down or you have to miss a day of work.”
Exactly. But to some they’re just supposed to tough it out.
every paper has a reporter assigned the police station to read the logs - and I imagaine they sometimes get extra tidbits from the person they deal with for months/years
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