He had been minding his own business when something surprising happened. He saw a police car chasing him! When something like this happens, it’s normal to be worried. What could be going on?
Panic-inducing
There’s nothing worse than looking in your rear view mirror and seeing a police car chasing you. The feeling that you’re about to be asked to get out of your car and get an expensive speeding ticket is terrifying. But this happens far too often and sometimes drivers are pulled over for more than just speeding.
Trigger panic
Special case
Normally we panic immediately because we expect a speeding ticket to come our way. We do our best to avoid such a situation, but sometimes we get pulled over for other reasons. That’s exactly what happened to William Jazwinski.
Special case
He was pulled over
William was on a joyride through the city when he was pulled over by a police officer. The young man was confused as he was unaware that he had done anything wrong.
He was pulled over
He was shaking in his boots
He was always a good driver and had no speeding tickets or accidents. He couldn’t understand why he was being pulled over. He had no idea what happened next when the policeman left his vehicle.
He was shaking in his boots
Not normal
The policeman got out of his patrol car and walked slowly towards him. He looked at him for a few seconds and then glanced at the dashboard of his car. This was not a normal conversation.
Not normal
A police car
He looked in the rear-view mirror and saw the red, white and blue flashing lights. William knew what that meant, and his suspicions were confirmed when he heard the classic police siren wailing.
A police car
What is yet to come
His heart was racing and a million questions were running through his head. But nothing made sense and he didn’t understand why he was being pulled over. He tried to calm down when the offer from the police came to his window.
What comes next
Be patient
He couldn’t help but be confused. After all, he knew he hadn’t been speeding and hadn’t done anything illegal. Nevertheless, he had no choice but to listen to what the policeman had to say.
Be patient
The waiting game
It made no sense to him at all. William had never been stopped before. Why did the policeman stop him? He was frustrated with what was happening because he was a law-abiding citizen.
The waiting game
Getting nervous
There was no way he was not going to follow the policeman’s instructions. He pulled over and waited to hear what the policeman had to say. It felt as if he had been waiting an eternity for the policeman to finally approach him.
Getting nervous
Asking the question
The police officer approached him, so he opened the window and saluted the officer. The young man asked why he was pulled over, wondering if he had been speeding without realizing it. “Good morning, officer, was I speeding?” he asked.
Asking the question
No disrespect
He did his best not to be disrespectful to the police as they were an authority figure. He didn’t want any trouble, but he wasn’t sure why he was being pulled over either. In a calm and polite tone, he continued with his question.
No disrespect
What’s going on?
Once again, it felt like an eternity had passed before the policeman gave him the answer to his question. It looked like he was taking his time and was in no hurry to answer. What did he say?
What is the problem?
Nothing wrong
William was very surprised when the policeman told him he was going to get a ticket. To be honest, he wasn’t. “Good morning,” the policeman said to him. “No, I wasn’t speeding.”
Nothing wrong
Uncomfortable
In fact, the policeman then told him that he hadn’t been stopped for any particular reason. This only made William feel more lost and an awkward silence ensued between the two men.
Awkward
What could it be?
If he wasn’t stopped for a reason, why was he stopped? William became nervous and a little scared. There had to be a reason why the police had stopped him in the middle of the afternoon.
What could it be?
An unexpected excursion
William waited hesitantly for what the policeman was going to say. He was confused and impatient, but then the officer finally told him something that took William completely by surprise. He really hadn’t expected that!
An unexpected excursion
Just saying thank you to him
It turned out that the policeman only stopped him because he wanted to say something to William. “I just wanted to stop you and thank you for your service,” the policeman explained.
Just to say thank you
How did he know that?
What kind of service exactly was the officer thanking William for? Besides, how did he even know that the young man had ever performed such a service? William was beginning to feel quite confused.
How did he know that?
Did they know each other?
The young man was more than shocked that a policeman he had never met before could know such a thing. Had the two of them met in the past or something?
Did they know each other?
His bumper sticker
William soon realized the reason why the officer knew. He had momentarily forgotten about the bumper sticker he had on the back of his pickup. Anyone who saw it knew that he had served in the army in the past.
His bumper sticker
A symbol
Army veterans often put stickers on their cars. For William, it’s normal for other drivers to wave at him or honk their horns to thank him for his service. But William had never been pulled over by a police officer before.
A symbol
Not over
When he noticed this, he thanked the officer warmly. “Oooh, the bumper sticker, nice. You’re welcome, sir,” he said. “My pleasure.” But that wasn’t the end of their encounter. On the contrary, for him it was just the beginning.
Not over
Just the beginning
William was ready to end the conversation when the policeman wouldn’t let him go. He didn’t see it coming and neither did we. But what happened next was a wonderful moment between the two of them.
Just the beginning
A few questions
However, the officer didn’t let William go just yet. He still had a few questions for the young veteran. Above all, the officer wanted to know where he was stationed. “Where did you serve?” the officer asked.
A few questions
Something seems to be wrong
At first, William couldn’t help but be skeptical about what was going on. He realized it wasn’t the job of a police officer to ask him about his military service. Did he answer?
Something seems fishy
About his service
Finally, he gave the policeman the answer to his question by telling him that he had worked as a driver of a heavy wheeled vehicle and had just returned from a country in the Middle East.
About his service
Would like to continue
“I was in Iraq,” he said. “I spent 15 months at Fort Benning.” He just wanted to get on with his civilian life and didn’t expect to be pulled over for his time in the Army.
He wants to move on
That makes no sense
However, the policeman had a reason to be curious about his time in Iraq. William had no idea why the policeman was asking him so many questions about his time in the military and it made him nervous.
Nonsensical
His own motive
To William, it seemed as if the policeman was only interested in his service and he didn’t really understand why he had to stop him on his way. But in reality, the policeman had completely different motives.
His own motive
Like his son
At that moment, the policeman told William that he had a son who had also recently served there. “Very well. My son was in Iraq,” said the policeman. That was the reason he stopped the young man.
How his son
Seeing things with different eyes
He just wanted to know more about someone who had been through the same thing as his son. Later he gave more information about the time his son spent in Iraq. This made William see things in a new light.
Seeing things differently
Change of heart
William no longer felt confused or frightened. Instead, he understood the man. However, he had just completed a PTSD program and it was still new for him to talk about the experiences he had had in the war.
Change of heart
He died there
The conversation then took a shocking turn. What the policeman had to say next gave William quite a shock. He thought he understood everything, but then he got an unexpected message. Let’s just say he wasn’t expecting it when he woke up that morning.
He died there
Speechless
He died while on duty. “He didn’t make it home,” the officer said to the young man. He was visibly struggling to get the words out of his mouth. It was so sad that it broke William’s heart. The only thing he could do was listen.
Speechless
My condolences
William couldn’t help but feel sorry for the policeman. He thought of the policeman who had lost his son in Iraq while he was out here enjoying his life as normal after his return.
My condolences
Something noticed
The veteran couldn’t do much other than offer his condolences to the grieving father. “Man, I’m so sorry to hear that,” he said to the older man. After that, the policeman regained his composure and almost left William alone when he saw something on the dashboard.
Something noticed
His folded flag
When the policeman lifted his head and almost let the young man go, he saw something strange lying on the dashboard of his car. It was a US flag that had been deliberately folded.
His folded flag
Meaning
At a US military funeral, the American flag is lowered and folded 13 times into a triangle to represent the lost lives of soldiers who have served. The flag is folded 13 times, with each fold signifying something different.
Meaning
Caught in the eye
“I see you have a flag in your truck,” said the policeman. He folded the flag according to an army custom to honor the fallen soldiers who fought for the country. What was it about the flag that caught the policeman’s attention?
His gaze fell on
Just like that
The moment he saw the folded flag on the dashboard, he thought of the same folded flag he had at home. It had been given to him by the army in memory of his son.
Just like the
He has the same
“The one we got for him! It’s in the house,” said the policeman. At that moment, the older man asked William for a favor. “May I ask a question?” William did not hesitate to comply with the request. This question came as a complete surprise to him.
He has the same
A joyride
William got up early on this beautiful spring morning and decided to take his pickup for a spin. It was his day off, so he could do whatever he wanted that day.
Out for a spin
Ruined day
He liked the idea of driving on a quiet street in New York without traffic getting in his way. At that moment, he glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw the police car on his tail.
Ruined day
Request for a hug
Right at that moment, the policeman nervously asked the veteran to get out of the pickup and give him a hug! “Would you mind getting out and getting a hug?” the sad policeman asked.
Asking for a hug
He knew he was annoyed
William was initially surprised by this request. After all, it’s not every day that a policeman stops you and asks you to hug him. But he knew that the policeman was annoyed.
He knew he was annoyed
Couldn’t say no
However, this was not a normal situation. After asking this question, the policeman burst into tears and told him something that touched him deeply. William had no choice but to make a decision.
He couldn’t say no
The reason why
Tears streamed down the policeman’s face as he poured his heart out to the young man. The policeman then explained to William that he was stopped because the veteran and his son had similarities.
The reason
A constant reminder
“You remind me of my son. I pulled you over,” said the policeman. “I thought you were him. Most of the time I still can’t believe he’s gone.” The only thing William had to do was to comply with the request and hug the poor man.
A constant reminder
A warm embrace
William couldn’t hold back his tears either. When he got out of the vehicle, he opened his arms and “hugged the man” He later said: “We both had tears in our eyes when I got out and hugged the man”
A warm embrace
The love of a stranger
After all the time and pain he had spent out in the field, he was honored to give this stranger a gentle, warm hug. Although it was the first time he had met the policeman, this hug meant a lot to him.
The love of a stranger
Crying together
Both men had been crying hysterically as they embraced. The war veteran and the policeman on duty had a deep heart-to-heart talk. This emotional embrace went on for quite a while.
Crying together
He needed a hug too
“I’m talking about a minute or two of crying,” William explained. “Get down on your knees and cry.” Although the policeman was the one who had asked for a hug, the young man couldn’t deny that he needed it as much as he did.
He needed a hug too
They needed it
Even if his conscience didn’t realize it at the time, William had to admit that he really needed a hug. Like most war veterans in the world, he had just completed a PTSD program himself.
They needed it
Open
It was a program that helped rehabilitate soldiers and prepare them to return to civilian life after experiencing horrific conditions in Iraq. “I just completed a PTSD program,” he told the officer.
Opening Up
What they needed
It was the last thing he needed to finally move on and live his life. Neither of them knew it at the time, but they needed each other and the embrace they both received.
They needed the
Shell Shock or PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that developed after specialists identified a pattern in war veterans. Their experiences were so traumatic that they carried them with them even after leaving the service.
Shell shock or PTSD
What happens?
With this type of disorder, the veteran may believe that his or her life or the lives of others are in danger. He or she may also feel that they have lost control of their situation. This is common in war veterans and is what William experienced with his group.
Time to reflect
William took time to reflect on the events of the afternoon. Every time he imagined the exchange, his heart warmed. He felt that this story was too remarkable to keep to himself, so he did something about it.
Time to reflect
A beautiful message
A few weeks after this encounter, William posted the story on Facebook and described what happened on the street. At the end of this strange and extraordinary encounter, William had a whole new perspective.
A beautiful message
A fresh outlook
William learned many things after the policeman stopped him. He wanted to share them all with others. “To all the families and friends of soldiers who are fighting or no longer fighting, God bless you…”
Fresh outlook
Unexpected
“…Your peace and your hearts,” he wrote in the post. “It’s so hard without them, I know. This journey is a huge one. Love to all of you.” William had no idea his life would change today.
Unexpectedly
It went viral
It didn’t take long for the social media post to reach the hearts of people from all over the world. Through “Love What Matters”, the post received more than 48,000 reactions!
It went viral
Support
People who had also experienced losing someone in the line of duty could understand what the grieving police officer had been going through inside. “I lost my son in Iraq on May 3, 2004. He was only 26 years old,” wrote one user.
Support
Relatable
There were people everywhere who felt connected to William, and he was overwhelmed by their reactions. People thanked him for his service, while others shared their stories. People had so much to say and were inspired by William.
Relatable
Always missed
“Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him and love him. I wonder what he would be like now, I miss him so much.” Unlike many men who were deployed overseas, William had the opportunity to come back.
Always missed
Now a father
After the life-changing encounter, his life has taken a new direction. Perhaps the biggest change was that he now has a little girl whom he loves very much. When he heard the policeman’s story, it shook him to the core.
Now a father
A father of his own
He realized how quickly you can die, and so he began to cherish the time he spends with the people he loves. William can now call himself the father of a girl.
A father of his own
An amazing person
We’re sure he’s doing a great job at parenting! Considering how warm he was with a complete stranger police officer, we have no doubt that his heart is full of his child!
An amazing human being
Fate
These two people may be strangers, but they happened to be in the right place at the right time. William was going through a tough time himself and this policeman’s story made him feel grateful for his life and grateful for the policeman who stopped him that day.
The fate
The ultimate sacrifice
Losing a child is one of the hardest things a parent can experience. The brave men and women who serve in the military risk their lives to serve our country. Wives and husbands can become widows, but losing a child is a feeling we can’t imagine.
The ultimate sacrifice
Saying thank you
We thank those who risk their lives in the military, past, present and future, but we also thank the families of those members. They must deal with the grief that their loved ones may not be coming home.
Say thank you
A day at work
William Jazwinski is not alone in this and in reality there are many other people who are pulled over for no reason. Police officer Michael Patterson was going about his duties when he pulled over a car because it had tinted windows. However, he didn’t realize that this would lead to something much bigger.
A day at work
A normal working day
The day began like any other and Patterson expected nothing less. His job required him to keep an eye on the roads and highways, and he felt vindicated in his position. He was determined to create a safe environment for everyone. He was strict in his duties and stopped cars that broke the rules. It stands to reason that most of the people he stopped were not exactly pleased to see him, because that meant they would most likely get a ticket.
A normal working day
Darker than allowed
On this normal day, a car caught his attention while he was monitoring the Kingwood Township highway. It was a pleasant and average day in June when he pulled over a white BMW. The driver wasn’t speeding or driving dangerously, but his windows were dark, which is illegal.
Darker than allowed
Dark windows
Tinted windows are widely used, but the line is drawn when someone exceeds the limit. The rule states that another person must be able to see through the windows. Michael was concerned when he noticed that the windows were too dark and decided to stop the car.
Dark windows
An unusual parking ticket
He had often stopped drivers for having tinted windows, that was nothing new. But this situation was different from the others. Normally, officers don’t give tickets for tinted windows, but this was no ordinary ticket.
An unusual ticket
He does his job
Michael first stopped the driver to talk to him about his overly tinted windows. He was a young police officer and didn’t like being seen as the bad guy. But he was also a rule follower, and when he realized this, he immediately turned on his lights and siren. The driver was probably confused as to what he had done wrong.
He’s doing his job
Just talk
Michael had made it his mission to be a friendly police officer, despite the seriousness of the offense. When he pulled over the BMW that day, he had no idea how much he would learn about this driver and vice versa. And not only that, there was also a surprise waiting for him.
Just talk
Unexpected
The BMW driver was angry and frustrated when he was pulled over. Just like everyone else in this situation. To his knowledge, he did nothing wrong and didn’t deserve to be pulled over. But he should have known the rules better than anyone else. Why is that the case?
Unexpectedly
A retired policeman
The driver was a former police officer! Retired police officers should know the rules as well or better than any normal person out there. He loved his job and was very skilled at it. It must have been humiliating when he was pulled over by a colleague.
A retired policeman
Dark tinted windows
This retired police officer had no intention of causing harm or trouble, but simply wanted to darken his windows. He had no intention of arguing with the police officer who pulled him over, and he knew he could easily lighten his windows.
Dark tinted windows
Talking shop
When Michael found out that the driver was a former police officer, he began to feel more at ease. It was nice to meet another person who knew about the job. They talked about the job and developed a connection in those few minutes. Little did they know that their lives would change for the better after this connection.
Talking shop
Binding
The exchange between Michael and the driver was recorded by Michael’s body camera. This would help him later. The former policeman’s name was Matthew Bailly and the two talked for a while.
Binding
Oldie but goodie
Bailey retired a long time ago, but they still had a lot to talk about. Michael was passionate about his profession and loved talking to people who knew their stuff. The older man explained that he used to work in a town about 40 miles away.
Oldie but goodie
Longer conversation
They had a lengthy conversation that centered around life as a police officer, but led to so much more. Afterwards, it all came to light. Michael was confused about where exactly Matthew came from and he wanted to know more.
Longer conversation
A great coincidence
As the conversation continued, they learned more about the other than they had expected. The older man explained that he worked a few towns away and Michael was surprised to hear this information. Coincidentally, it turned out that this place was Michael’s hometown!
A great coincidence
Speculation
Matthew asked Michael his age, but Michael felt uncomfortable answering the question because he was an older man. Michael was getting more and more curious, especially now that Matthew lived in his hometown. He knew a few police officers there and now he was getting suspicious.
Speculation
26 years ago
Well, 26 years before today, something interesting happened. It wasn’t the usual police story you expected. 26 years ago was the day Michael was born and that day was pretty strange. However, Michael never spoke to anyone about it.
26 years ago
His home town
When Matthew revealed where exactly he used to work, Michael’s attention was immediately piqued. It was his hometown and it was exciting to meet someone who knew the city. Plus, it was interesting that he was a fellow police officer. Their conversation began to flow.
His home town
More questions
in 1991, Michael was born in Piscataway and this caught Matthew’s attention. He was stationed there at the time and could be involved in a case involving Michael! He realized this when Michael told him his birth date was October 5.
Further questions
Everything falls into place
They hadn’t discussed it yet, but Michael knew in his gut that his instinct was right. He hesitated, but then he voiced his suspicions. Then they talked about that night 26 years ago. Eventually they realized that they had met before.
Everything comes together