Huntingburg officer recognized for kindness

Last week, Huntingburg Officer Riley Fleetwood was presented with a special award for simply being kind and patient.

Officer Fleetwood attended this year’s The Sky is the Limit event, a special needs festival and resource fair held at the Huntingburg Event Center on Saturday, April 6.

From the beginning of The Sky Is The Limit, the goal has always been to help families with access to information and resources while providing a fun experience for special needs individuals.

This year, Fleetwood was there to help visitors learn about police officers and other emergency services. The goal was to help overcome some apprehension special needs individuals may have because of personal experiences or the loud noises and lights that accompany their work.

According to organizers, Officer Fleetwood would spend time with the kids, getting down on their level to talk with them about his job.

This led to some interesting interactions, including one boy who was autistic and didn’t want to meet with Officer Fleetwood.

“He was afraid of police officers because he had seen his parents both being handcuffed and placed in the back of the police car,” said Tina Dearing, a board member of Differently Able, the nonprofit that puts on the event. “But on that day the boy sat in the police car, not once but twice. Officer Fleetwood took the time to calm the child’s fears. His grandmother was moved to tears because of the trauma the boy had faced. “

Fleetwood’s calm and patient demeanor was able to turn the boy’s fears around and give him a great experience that has carried on outside of the event.

“This child may only be four years old, but he has already lived a lifetime in fear,” said Dearing. “It took Officer Fleetwood and Differently Able Inc. To change his outlook. Riley Fleetwood deserves to be recognized. It was amazing to see.”

Officer Fleetwood was presented the Exemplary Public Service award from Huntingburg Police Chief Art Parks and Differently Able, Inc. founder Maleah Dearing at a special ceremony on Thursday, May 2.