Citizen Writes Thanks to Parsippany Officer For Cheering Up Son at Softball Game

PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY — Parsippany Police Officer Joe Chmura was on a normal patrol last week when he made a new friend at a softball game.

“This little boy was standing off to the side with his dad,” Chmura told Patch. “He said, ‘Hey, your car is really cool! Can I look at it?’”

In a letter sent to the Parsippany Police Department, the child’s mother described how her son was there for one of his sister’s softball games and “anticipated suffering,” but meeting Officer Chmura “made my son’s night.”

“He was so thrilled and shared the story with anyone listening,” the mother wrote.

“I said, would you like a badge?” Chmura told Patch. “I carry these plastic badges. from when I taught D.A.R.E. The kids always like those.”

The boy said, “Wow, thanks a lot!” and Chmura told him, “Make sure you do what mom and dad tell you to do.”

Chmura taught D.A.R.E. for fifteen years and is a father of three kids. He said it’s important for him that kids know that they can talk to police and they aren’t afraid of them.

Full the full letter from the boy’s mom below: