Terry Bynum and his family were driving from Colorado to Mississippi when their car lost a tire on a highway in Hardy, Arkansas. They were stranded and far from home – with no way to continue their journey. Terry called 911 as a first step to get out of the mess.
Sergeant Dan Gallagher showed up. But instead of just checking in and heading out, he loaded the entire family into his cruiser, drove them to a hotel – and refused to let them pay for the room. Dan took the extra step of giving Terry's son a police badge, and the family dog became a temporary K9.
While the gesture had a big impact on the Bynum family, Dan didn't think that much of it. It was just the right thing to do. "Hardy is a very giving and loving town," Dan explained. "Me as a person, I like to give back to the community as much as I can."
Dan went on to say he hopes his actions will inspire others to help those in need. "Just in case myself or somebody else is in need as well, somebody would look back and give back just the same,” he said.
Terry and his family made it home safely the next day, but the adventure created a lasting bond. "Something that I will never be able to repay that man for," Terry said. "Not because he helped me, but because of what he did. Not even as a police officer, but as a human being."