What 1st Responders Do When Not Chasing Bad Guys Or Putting Out Fires

TAMPA BAY, FL — Contrary to popular belief, cops and firefighters don't spend their spare time sitting around eating doughnuts and drinking coffee. Here's photographic proof that first responders are always on the job, even if they aren't chasing criminals and fighting fires.

Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department's Engine 48 surprised 10-year-old Dylan Heffernan with a visit at Dylan's physical therapy treatment center last week.

Lt. Doug Kellin befriended the boy while undergoing therapy at the same center, CORA Physical Therapy. Dylan is learning to walk again due to a severe arthritic condition and, once he learned Kellin was a firefighter, he peppered the lieutenant with questions about his job.

On Thursday, Kellin reached out to the Engine 48 crew who were happy to stop by the therapy center Thursday. They gave the boy a fire helmet and lifted him up to sit in the front seat of the engine.

“It definitely brightened his day,” said his mother, Bonnie Capen. “He can’t stop talking about it. He was really excited.”

Sunday, when a resident's car broke down in the parking lot of the Orient Road Jail, Hillsborough County sheriff's Deputy Rich Morales got down and dirty beneath the car's hood. He was able to fix the problem and get the resident back on the road.

Pasco County sheriff's deputies were caught on surveillance camera June 19 helping a driver whose car broke down in the busy turn lane at the intersection of State Road 54 and Little Road.

The video shows three deputies pushing the car to a nearby gas station, so the driver could wait on a tow truck in the safety of the parking lot.

Tuesday morning, Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. John Haintz and paramedic G. Thomas were photographed helping a resident change a flat tire.

While stopping for a breakfast break at Maggie Mae's on the Bluffs in Belleair Bluffs last Wednesday, Pinellas County sheriff's Deputy Bo Bauman and Sgt. Gregory Horton spotted a group of kids with their parents enjoying breakfast and decided to strike up a conversation after one of the kid waved at them.

The parents said the two law enforcement officers made a big impression on the kids.

"They haven’t stopped talking about how great they were," said the kids' mother. "I love that there are still great men and women left that truly care about their job and making a difference. These two were amazing this morning at breakfast and all of the kids loved them. Please let them know we appreciate them."

And, yes, as Largo police demonstrated, there's always time for doughnuts.

Above, Pasco County sheriff's deputies push a stalled car out of the road and into the safety of a service station parking lot.