Education takes the form of many varieties and as students prepare to don their backpacks, gather their supplies and make sure they have lunch money, another form of learning took place in Farmersville recently.

As a member of Citizens Assisting Farmersville Police, we are allowed and encouraged to complete ride alongs with officers within the department. Riding with a veteran officer, we headed out to complete nightly patrol activities and make sure the town was safe and sound.

Having a fellow new officer call him to come assist with a traffic stop across town, I couldn’t help but wonder what was up. Knowing that she hadn’t asked for us to come “code,” or in a hurry, eased my mind somewhat but since I’m nosy by nature I couldn’t help but continue my questioning thoughts.

Arriving on Hwy. 380 behind the new officer it was discovered that the driver of the vehicle who was speeding by about 15 over, had a parole violation warrant and needed to be arrested. Complicating the matter was the fact that the driver, aka grandma, had two grandchildren with her. Knowing that they had no choice but to take her to jail, the officers began to problem solve to get the children back to their parents while keeping them safe and sound.

Needless to say, the kids were scared. Tears ensued. But comfort was given and an education that police officers aren’t all bad began.

Receiving information that the mom and dad were at a “party” together, the officers began calling them, and calling them and calling them some more.

Eventually, the dad answered the phone with an immediate “are my kids ok?” Turns out, mom and dad, who had not had a date night in sometime, had escaped and were enjoying each others company while grandma was watching the kids. Not being nearby, the officers asked if there was anyone else who could come get the kids. The dad asked if he could call the officers back shortly, which he did, indicating that a close family friend and her husband would be there within 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, the officer chatted with the kids, standing next to the vehicle on the side of the road, making sure no one came near and the kids were safe. He gave them police badge stickers. He had conversations about school starting. And he laughed as the kids colored Spiderman pages.

And the education continued.

Pulling up in front of the vehicle and squad car, out jumped a woman and her husband who sported an “I married a teacher” t-shirt.

Turns out the woman was one of the children’s first grade teacher. The kid was now in sixth grade and the teacher had remained a close family friend for many years. Making sure the kids were safe was her first priority as she hurried alongside the vehicle. Transporting the kids and the vehicle back to their home, the couple thanked the officer and left with kids in tow.

Numerous stories about police officers and teachers doing horrible things are reported in the news each and everyday. But where are the ones like this one? The ones where officers and teachers join forced to become real life superheroes for the sake of a child.

The public needs to be educated about what our officers and our teachers do on a daily basis, not just once in a while but all the time.

Are there bad teachers and bad police officers? Of course there are. Just like there are bad journalists (hold your comments peanut gallery.)

But I can assure you they weren’t standing on that road that night. All I saw were superheroes.