Blog by Associate Colette Parker[/caption]
So, let me get this straight: a 12-year-old boy was mowing a lawn and inadvertently crossed the property line, cutting a section of grass in the neighbor’s yard.
The neighbor called 911, asking the police to make him (and his crew – his siblings and cousins, ages nine to 13) stop.
Wow! Is that an emergency call that a 911 operator should be answering?
Anyway, a police officer showed up and -- to the officer’s credit – he did not confront the children, but addressed the adult customer who hired the crew and the adult neighbor who called police.
But the 12-year-old (Reginald Fields), who owns a lawn care business called Mr. Reggie’s Lawn Cutting Service in Maple Heights, Ohio, was dismayed because the police were called on him and his crew (who in his eyes were doing nothing wrong).
The woman who hired the crew to mow her lawn was troubled by the situation and created a Facebook Live post about what happened.
The post has apparently gotten thousands of views and shares that have resulted in more business for Mr. Reggie and his crew.
Reggie’s mother told a reporter that it is heartwarming to see her children get so much support for doing something productive.
Since the incident, Reggie’s business has received a number of new job offers and a donation of a new push lawn mower and two leaf and grass blowers. My hat’s off to those who are encouraging Reggie and his crew to continue doing something constructive.
Don’t you just love it?
Doesn’t it inspire you to speak up -- like Mr. Reggie’s customer -- when you know something isn’t right?
Doesn’t it motivate you to want to encourage someone -- like those new customers of Mr. Reggie and the person who donated the lawn equipment -- who you see doing something constructive? 