The Hart-felt Heroine

Officer Rosalie Hart had high ambitions when she graduated from the police academy. Donning her badge like a superhero cape, she was ready for justice. She had the eagerness and excitement of Judy Hopps (Yes, the rabbit from Zootopia) and at twenty-one years old, she knew everything there was to know about life. 

Over the years, however, she learned how wrong she had been, and now, at thirty-one, Officer Hart was well aware of how much life still had to teach her. For instance, when her service weapon was placed in her hands, she envisioned running around pointing it at every “bad guy” she encountered, but after ten years it hadn’t left her holster. The lack of excitement could be that she was an officer in a small and relatively safe town, but Officer Hart had grown to love it. Fortunately, the community, in general, respected her profession. It didn’t stop her; however, from wishing that she had been a firefighter. She was respected, but the firefighters were revered. Firefighters are heroes; cops arrest people. There’s a reason the former get the calendars, although Officer Hart had jokingly told her colleagues that they should make a sexy police edition, maybe they could even pose with some doughnuts for good measure.  

The day was turning out to be pretty ordinary, or so she thought. Gray skies bore bright white snowflakes as they fluttered to their fallen comrades below and clung to them making the banks ever growing. The wind made their descent harder throwing them sideways. As was expected that time of year, the temperature was a biting twenty-eight degrees. 

Officer Hart had started her day in her warm cruiser on traffic duty. It was only 7:30 in the morning, but she had already handed out a few speeding tickets to some much chagrined drivers. The best excuse award went to the newly licensed female driver who was out all night and trying to sneak back home. On these days, Officer Hart was a truth serum. One look at her and the drivers, the nervous Nellies especially, would spill their guts in excruciating detail. She heard all about their bathroom needs, the deaths in their families, and their troubles with their significant others. It almost made Officer Hart appreciate the drivers who “knew their rights” and remained silent a little more.   

After the last traffic stop, Officer Hart made her way to the gas station to refuel. She shivered as she stood at the pump, but was cured by purchasing a hot cup of coffee. When she was back in her vehicle, her radio buzzed.

Dispatch to 4189. We have reports of a seven year old girl falling through ice. Two children are on scene. Only one is reported in the water. The location is Bucks Pond, 87 Mitzler Rd. You are the closest unit. Please advise. Over

“4189 to dispatch. Copy. Reporting to Bucks Pond. Over.” Officer Hart sped through town being careful not to spin out on the ice. Her lights and sirens cleared the cars. “4189 to dispatch. I’ve arrived on scene, Bucks Pond. Over.” 

Copy 4189.  

Officer Hart surveyed the scene and saw a small girl on the ground crying. She ran toward the child. “What happened? Are you ok?”

“Help her! Help her! My sister is in the water.” The girl screamed.

Barely thinking, Officer Hart kicked off her shoes, shed her coat and holster, and jumped into the pond. Despite being normally smooth and inviting, the water was sharp and unforgiving as Officer Hart splashed into it, causing her to go into shock. Breathing was difficult. Her dry uniform was heavy on land. Now wet, it was dragging her down. Numbness crept into her extremities as she fought her way to the surface. At the top, she gulped at the air, unable to get a true deep breath. Time was running out; she knew she had to find the girl. The water was dark and murky. Her lungs burned, but she swam around blindly reaching for the child. 

“Just a little further.” She told herself.

Suddenly, she felt something soft. She ran her hands over it and felt an arm. Mercifully, it was the little girl. Officer Hart wrapped her arms tightly around the girl. She was dead weight, but Officer Hart was not giving up.

A whole team of first responders were now on scene and they assisted in pulling both the child and officer out of the water. The girl was immediately brought to the back of the ambulance where EMS started CPR. Officer Hart’s feet touched the ground, but then her body crumpled, though she remained conscious. 

“The girl! Where’s the girl? Is she ok?” Officer Hart gasped.

“Ma’am, it’s ok. They are working on her now,” one of the EMT’s responded. We need to take you to the ambulance. You’re going to get hypothermia if we don’t.”  

Officer Hart complied with the request. As a precaution, she was sent to the hospital, and although she obliged, she incessantly inquired about the girl. After what felt like hours, Officer Hart was relieved to learn that the lifesaving efforts were successful, and given some time, the girl was going to make a full recovery. Officer Hart spent one night in the hospital and was discharged with a clean bill of health.     

The month that followed was a bit of a blur. When Officer Hart was reunited with the girl, she had to blink away tears as the girl hugged her. They took photos together for the local paper, and they were featured on the local news stations. Officer Hart was even surprised when she was awarded a medal for her heroism. If you ask her though, she’ll tell you that she’s no hero, and that anyone would have done the same thing. 

Soon, the hubbub died down, and just like that, life had returned back to normal. Time ticked on and ten years passed quickly for Officer Hart. At forty-one she still wanted that calendar, damn it, but it could wait. In that time, she had gained a husband and two beautiful children, and she was close to getting a promotion. Since taking the photos with the girl, Officer Hart hadn’t seen her. She found herself wondering about her from time to time. The events of the day were a piece of her now, never to be forgotten.    

Today was turning out to be pretty ordinary, or so she thought. Bright blue skies bore fluffy white clouds that danced around the sun. The temperature was unseasonably high at eighty-eighty degrees. Officer Hart was nice and cool in her cruiser as she patrolled traffic. Up ahead, she could see a red car that appeared to be driving too fast. She sped up and clocked the car on her radar going 70mph in a 55mph zone. She activated her lights and sirens and the red car pulled over.  

Officer Hart walked up to the car and was greeted by a young female. “License and registration, please.” She said. 

The woman handed over the documents, but looked at Officer Hart with a puzzled expression. “Forgive me, ma’am” she said. “Have we met before?”

At first, Officer Hart thought the woman was playing a game to avoid getting a ticket, until she looked at the woman’s license. The woman was Martina Greene. It took Officer Hart a moment to compose herself, but she responded. “Yes. We have met before. You were about seven years old.”

“Are you…” Martina stuttered.

“The officer who pulled you from the pond?”

“Yes! Oh my goodness!” Tears pooled in Martina’s eyes. “You know, I never got to truly thank you, ma’am. Of course, that doesn’t even seem like enough, ma’am.”

“Just seeing you is enough.” Officer Hart responded. Her eyes were teary too.

“I’m graduating from high school because of you! I saw my sixteenth birthday and got my license because of you! Would it be too much, ma’am, if I gave you a hug?”

“Not at all, but you might want to exit your vehicle first.” Officer Hart chuckled.

           Martina got out and embraced her. Neither one of them let go for a while. When they finally did part, Officer Hart placed her hands on the sides of Martina’s face, gently brushing away her tears. “You’ve got to be careful, ok? You were speeding. You can’t be getting in to car accidents on me now.”

“Oh ma’am, I’m so sorry. I won’t ever.”

“Martina?” Officer Hart said. 

“Yes, ma’am?”

“If you agree to never ever call me ma’am again, I’ll agree to not give you a speeding ticket. Sound good?”

Martina smiled and nodded. “Sounds great.”