On September 8, Constables Genevieve Bolduc and Lisa Beaucage were dispatched to assist with a high-needs teenager in the west end. They were both familiar with the family, as they had dealt with outbursts by the 18-year-old before. On this day, he broke two windows in the family van in a parking lot while they were on an outing. Cst. Beaucage helped calm the young man and Constable Bolduc spoke to his mother.
“It was clear she was exhausted and without support to help manage her son,” said Cst. Bolduc.
The officers cleaned up the broken glass and escorted the mother and son home to make sure they were okay.
“When we pulled up to the house on a nice residential street, we could see the lawn hadn’t been mowed recently,” said Constable Bolduc.
The woman said her lawn mower broke two months before and she had been too busy to deal with it.
Coincidently, Cst. Beaucage has experience in small engine repair. She took a look at the lawn mower and quickly identified what part was missing. Meanwhile, Cst. Bolduc went to the house next door and asked to borrow their lawn mower.
In fifteen minutes, the two officers had mowed and trimmed the lawn.
“It was a small gesture, but she felt like she was being supported,” said Cst. Bolduc. “She was crying when we first saw her and by the time we left, she was laughing. I’m glad we could lighten her load.”