Officer buys groceries for shoplifting suspect

I ran this article before, but I didn’t have the officer’s pic and I think he deserves recognition.

Thanks for sending the second article, Jeannette!

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AP Photo Bozeman Police Officer Marek Ziegler poses for a photo Wednesday in Bozeman. Ziegler purchased groceries for a man after arresting the suspect for theft from a grocery store.

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 Bozeman Daily 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.

LINK

93-year-old’s love of dogs helps police, draws neighbor’s curiosity

At 93, passion got Marion Jordan in trouble. At least that is what her neighbors thought.

“Everybody in this building was just, ‘What in the world is going on? What’s happening and why?’” Jordan said with a big smile.

You see, Jordan, whose home has statues and stuffed German Shepherds everywhere, missed having a real dog. She has owned four in her life.

“I have sure missed my dogs,” she said. “They’re my best friends, my very best friends. There is nothing like a German Shepherd. They are the smartest dog.”

So a few years ago, her son-in-law asked Aurora Police K9 Unit to stop by.

“Muskit has been the dog I’ve seen each year. I just adore that dog and the officers are wonderful,” Jordan said.

That is what got the 93-year-old in trouble, sort of.

“This friend of mine who has since passed away, she told everybody, ‘Well, they’ve gone to see Marion and they’ve got a drug-sniffing dog with them.’ So everybody said, ‘Marion, what’s going on?’” Jordan said.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE/WATCH VIDEO HERE