The North Brunswick Police Department took up their snow shovels Saturday night and helped shovel out a distraught resident get to a family emergency in south Jersey. Watch video
NORTH BRUNSWICK -- A distraught resident called 9-1-1 Saturday night in North Brunswick during the height of the snow storm and police responded, but when the officers got there, the resident had a problem that didn't come under the officers' duty title.
Police said the resident needed to get to South Jersey where a relative was suffering a medical emergency and couldn't get out of his home.
So, the officers "acquired" a snow blower, got snow shovels and dug the resident out "in short order so he could attend his family emergency," according to an entry on the police department's Facebook page.
"This is community policing and teamwork at its finest," the department said.
Apparently North Brunswick residents agreed, with most lauding the department for throwing aside the police manual and rule books.
"Great job," said Cindy Grimm. "I wish these positive stories would get more coverage and we'd hear less of the negative from the news media. In my experience this is more the norm."
Even other police departments chimed in.
"Great job NBPD!," the Piscataway Police Department wrote. "Kudos!"
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.