Above And Beyond: Coventry Police Officer Buys Doll For Girl, 5

COVENTRY, RI — A Coventry police officer went above and beyond the call of duty this Christmas season, Police Chief John MacDonald said on Thursday. When a five-year-old girl's mother was hospitalized just a few days before the holiday, he made her wish come true when he bought her a very special gift.

The officer was called to the girl's house when her mother slipped and fell and had to be taken to the hospital. After calling her grandmother, he stayed in the house with the girl for more than an hour, telling her everything would be ok and calming her down.

During their talk, the girl told him that, more than anything, she wanted a specific American Girl doll named Willa for Christmas. When the grandmother arrived, the officer left and went straight to Wal-Mart, where he bought the doll.

"At the time, our officer was unsure how long the victim would be in the hospital, but he was sure that he wanted the child to have good memories about Christmas," Colonel MacDonald wrote on Facebook.

A few days later, the officer returned to the house and gave the doll to the child.

"The smile she gave him was priceless," MacDonald said.

Not looking for recognition, the officer asked to not be identified by name.

"We felt his actions were worthy of being told to the community. Because he went above and beyond the call of duty, the child had a very positive interaction with the Police and a Christmas that she would remember for something other than her mother being in the hospital," MacDonald concluded. "Job well done, sir."