In the early morning hours of Aug. 22, 2020, Sgt. Lanny Wheeler, with the White County Sheriff’s Office, answered a call and, according to one Sparta resident, went above and beyond his job description.
Pauline Gritten had received the call no parent ever wants to receive. At 5 a.m., Cookeville Regional Medical Center called to let the White County resident know that her son had passed away.
“I was so distressed; I knew I couldn’t drive. I was in no condition to drive to Cookeville,” the 87-year-old Gritten said.
Gritten said she had just been to the hospital the day before to drop off some items for her son who lived with her before he was admitted to the hospital, on Aug. 20 after a visit to his cardiologist.
“He went to that appointment, and he never came home,” Gritten said.
Gritten said she wasn’t sure what to do, but knew she had to get to the hospital, so she ultimately decided to call 911.
“I just wanted to ask them what I should do. I didn’t know who else to call,” she explained, saying she was both surprised and relieved when they sent a White County deputy to her home.
“He was such a gentleman,” Gritten said of Sgt. Wheeler. “It was hard to believe how extremely nice he was.”
Sgt. Wheeler arrived at her home and transported her to Cookeville Regional Medical Center so she could say goodbye to her son and meet with the hospital staff.
“He didn’t just drive me and drop me off,” Gritten said. “He took me to the room, which was good, because I was so upset, I could hardly walk.”
According to Gritten, Wheeler stayed with her while the doctors spoke with her about her son and then waited with her until she was ready to leave. After escorting her back to her home, Wheeler still stayed outside for what Gritten describes as “a long time to make sure I was OK and didn’t need anything.”
“Law people get such a bad name, but this was so nice,” she said. “People need to respect them. They’re not all bad. They are there to help you.”
Gritten went on to say she couldn’t find enough words to adequately express how she felt about Wheeler and what he did for her during the morning of Aug. 22.
“I could go on and on about that man, he was so good to me,” she said again. “And he was very concerned and helpful. He seemed to truly care. He is a special man. He saved my life that day.”
As for Wheeler, he said he was doing his job but admitted that many people only look at law enforcement officers as protectors of the law, not servants of the community. He also said the call on Aug. 22 was not a typical call, but he is grateful he was able to be there for Gritten that morning and hopes she will feel confident to call him again should she ever need assistance.
“Helping her in that situation is my job. It’s our job to serve the community, not only protect,” Wheeler said.
According to Sheriff Steve Page, Sgt. Wheeler was named Deputy of the Year, in 2019, and is an exemplary civil servant.
Sgt. Wheeler said, “It’s what all law enforcement officers should do – not just in White County, but across the nation.”
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here