Officer Derek Pratico Goes Above And Beyond

It was a sad day for a Jacksonville mother when their car was burglarized on March 26 this year. The mother, who was the owner of the car, was extremely upset not only just because her belongings were taken from the vehicle, but because the thieves took away her son’s birthday present. Distraught, the struggling mother didn’t have money to replace the gift she’d already purchased and had no idea how to give her son a birthday without it. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer Derek Pratico had responded to the burglary call and was the one who wrote the police report. After writing the report, he left the scene and went on his way.

The very next day, Officer Pratico went to the store and – out of his own pocket – purchased a birthday present, birthday card, and birthday cake to take to the young boy for his birthday. Aside from that, the kind-hearted officer also bought a $100 gift card give to the boy’s mother to help her get back on her feet.

While this act of kindness happened quietly months ago in March, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office just got word about Pratico’s kind deed and posted about it on their Facebook page – they thought everyone should know about their officer’s amazing heart! They asked for and received Pratico’s consent to use his picture for the story. His reply? “I did not do this for any recognition, I just felt it was the right thing to do at that moment.”

Photo Source: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Facebook