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13-Year-Old Calls Police To Say He Wants To Run Away From Home, Cop Decides To Look Inside His Room
When 13-year-old Cameron Simmons from Sumter, South Carolina, called police officer Gaetano Acerra to tell him that he was planning to run away, the cop went to his house to investigate. The boy said he’d had a fight with his mother and didn’t want to live there anymore, but it was only when Acerra looked into the boy’s bedroom that he truly understood the gravity of the situation.
Cameron had almost no furniture, and his bed consisted of an air mattress that deflated during the night and gave him frequent back pain. It seems that his mother had fallen into financial difficulties since moving from Texas to care for a sick relative, and when officer Acerra saw the boy’s situation, he knew he had to help. So a few weeks later he returned with a desk, a chair, a television and a queen-sized bed for Cameron. He even gave him a Nintendo Wii that somebody had donated after hearing about the teenager’s story.
“My heart went out for him,” Acerra told WIS-TV. “I thought the little things that he needed I could give him, to make him a happier kid. I didn’t do this for publicity or to get people to notice me. I did it because I could. It was the right thing to do and I think people should do things like this.”
Police in the US often seem to get a lot of bad press, but this story goes to show that many cops are going above and beyond the call of duty in order to serve and protect. (h/t: WIS-TV)
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When this 13-year-old called an officer to say he was going to run away from home, the cop decided to step in
Image credits: HLN
He went to meet Cameron Simmons to see what happened
Image credits: HLN
When the cop looked into his room he was shocked – no bed, just a deflated air mattress that gave him back pain
Image credits: worldmoney (not actual photo)
Apparently, his mother had fallen into financial difficulties since moving from Texas to care for a sick relative
So a few weeks later he returned with a real bed, a desk, a chair, a television, and a Nintendo Wii for Cameron
Image credits: HLN
“My heart went out for him… I didn’t do this for publicity… I did it because I could. It was the right thing to do and I think people should do things like this”
Image credits: HLN
Watch the video below for more on this amazing story:
The internet was quick to praise the officer for his compassion
1.1Mviews
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RaroaRaroa 8 years ago
This story is 3 years old, but still a nice story. Would be better if you could tell us how the boy's doing now though. Is he still friends with the cop? Are things better for his mother now?
Savio Mathews 8 years ago
I am from India. Here, that'd be neat enough place for a 13 year old. At least he has a room! And, a bed like that would be considered luxurious! Perspective.
Jodie Hunter 8 years ago
http://khon2.com/2014/05/14/officer-starts-non-profit-to-help-needy-children-after-photo-goes-viral/ The cop ended up starting a non profit to help others, and Cameron's family received more offers of assistance. Glad to see that, family caregivers sacrifice so much to help others.
Hope Floats 8 years ago
I remember having a row with my mum when I was seven, and telling my Dad over the phone that I had decided to runaway,but seeing as we were never allowed to cross the road without an adult,I didn't get too far...Infact I think I walked six houses down,remembered mum was cooking roast chicken,then went off the whole idea! We receive so much negativety about the police,that it made a nice change to read a positive story.... I'm sure there are loads of kind acts carried out by our police all around the world,,but like any kind of good news,it never seems to reach our newspapers. It would be nice to read a follow up story on this just to find out how this young man is doing today..His nice bed and things must have meant so much to him and to know he went from sleeping virtually on the floor to a nice bed makes me smile. I hope both him and mum are now doing much better.
Long Joan Silver 8 years ago
If people weren't so self absorbed, then there would be more people like that police officer. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Load More Replies...
Katinka Min 8 years ago
A very nice action from an individual but why the hell doesn't the mother get more support from the state?? Where are the support services for children that exist in some other countries?
Heather Rotz 8 years ago
Despite the lies you see and hear all over, she probably does not qualify for support. In doing social work, I saw it every day. I had a single father of three little kids, two of which were special needs on my caseload. He made $10 per hour. They approved him for a lousy $40 per month in food stamps, NO child care, no TANF, nothing. It makes me so mad when I hear folks complain about people on welfare because the reality is that it is HARD to get the support when you need it.
Load More Replies...
Just a Purpler 8 years ago
He didn't do it for publicity, yet here we are, making it public... I love the story, but I think it'd be sweeter if it was kept a secret between the family and cop. Makes it a more special memory for them.
Sally Brite 8 years ago
I wrote the same thing and got 32 downvotes. People love a cheesy story, I guess.
Load More Replies... Long Joan Silver 8 years ago
What this police officer did, is something that we all should be doing. As human beings, it is our duty to help one another. Unfortunately, that's not the case. A lot of us are so self absorbed, that we forget that there are people out there that are far less fortunate than us. This is why, when a person talks to me about anything, I will give that person my full attention, even if they're a stranger. My reason for doing so, is simple. We never know how much a person is suffering, and we may be the only person who they've spoken to in weeks, months, or even years.
RaroaRaroa 8 years ago
This story is 3 years old, but still a nice story. Would be better if you could tell us how the boy's doing now though. Is he still friends with the cop? Are things better for his mother now?
Savio Mathews 8 years ago
I am from India. Here, that'd be neat enough place for a 13 year old. At least he has a room! And, a bed like that would be considered luxurious! Perspective.
Jodie Hunter 8 years ago
http://khon2.com/2014/05/14/officer-starts-non-profit-to-help-needy-children-after-photo-goes-viral/ The cop ended up starting a non profit to help others, and Cameron's family received more offers of assistance. Glad to see that, family caregivers sacrifice so much to help others.
Hope Floats 8 years ago
I remember having a row with my mum when I was seven, and telling my Dad over the phone that I had decided to runaway,but seeing as we were never allowed to cross the road without an adult,I didn't get too far...Infact I think I walked six houses down,remembered mum was cooking roast chicken,then went off the whole idea! We receive so much negativety about the police,that it made a nice change to read a positive story.... I'm sure there are loads of kind acts carried out by our police all around the world,,but like any kind of good news,it never seems to reach our newspapers. It would be nice to read a follow up story on this just to find out how this young man is doing today..His nice bed and things must have meant so much to him and to know he went from sleeping virtually on the floor to a nice bed makes me smile. I hope both him and mum are now doing much better.
Long Joan Silver 8 years ago
If people weren't so self absorbed, then there would be more people like that police officer. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Load More Replies... Katinka Min 8 years ago
A very nice action from an individual but why the hell doesn't the mother get more support from the state?? Where are the support services for children that exist in some other countries?
Heather Rotz 8 years ago
Despite the lies you see and hear all over, she probably does not qualify for support. In doing social work, I saw it every day. I had a single father of three little kids, two of which were special needs on my caseload. He made $10 per hour. They approved him for a lousy $40 per month in food stamps, NO child care, no TANF, nothing. It makes me so mad when I hear folks complain about people on welfare because the reality is that it is HARD to get the support when you need it.
Load More Replies... Just a Purpler 8 years ago
He didn't do it for publicity, yet here we are, making it public... I love the story, but I think it'd be sweeter if it was kept a secret between the family and cop. Makes it a more special memory for them.
Sally Brite 8 years ago
I wrote the same thing and got 32 downvotes. People love a cheesy story, I guess.
Load More Replies... Long Joan Silver 8 years ago
What this police officer did, is something that we all should be doing. As human beings, it is our duty to help one another. Unfortunately, that's not the case. A lot of us are so self absorbed, that we forget that there are people out there that are far less fortunate than us. This is why, when a person talks to me about anything, I will give that person my full attention, even if they're a stranger. My reason for doing so, is simple. We never know how much a person is suffering, and we may be the only person who they've spoken to in weeks, months, or even years.
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