• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle...
        “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist...
        Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service...
        Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates...
        FBI data shows decrease in line-of-duty deaths, rise in officer...
    • Labor
      • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing...
        Phoenix City Council approves new police union contract with pay...
        Los Angeles County sheriff requests funding for recruitment, equipment
        “It’s a scary time for Cleveland”: City attracts smallest...
        Portland State University rearms campus police officers
    • Tech
      • California sheriff’s department pays $1.1 million to cyber...
        Bay Area businesses embrace AI surveillance protection amid crime...
        California family tracks down and recovers stolen e-bike using Apple...
        Indianapolis law enforcement team up with legislators to fight...
        Peeling the onion
    • Training
      • Understanding privacy coins
        Unlock your potential
        Crisis intervention team training
        What’s the best way to train law enforcement leaders?
        Ohio police officer and father of autistic son launches autism...
    • Policy
      • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after...
        Washington state on brink of decriminalizing drug possession
        California AG launches investigation into Antioch police following...
        Back the Blue Act aims to enhance penalties for killing law...
        Alaska state troopers to be equipped with body cameras by end of year
    • Health/Wellness
      • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health...
        Peacekeeper Initiative offers support and healing for retired police...
        Serenity in the saddle
        Worried about someone’s drinking?
        Thinking of pulling the pin on retirement?
    • Community
      • A catastrophic threat
        A symbol of hope
        A legacy never forgotten
        High school students participate in job shadow day with New York...
        Officers helping officers
    • Offbeat
      • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while...
        A case of mistaken identity: Oklahoma police officers respond to...
        Kansas deputy pulls over man in Bud Light costume during DUI traffic...
        “Arrest them!”: Florida residents call 9-1-1 on two angry goats...
        Minnesota deputies detain escaped emu looking for love in all the...
    • We Remember
      • Honoring Fallen Heroes
        “Our hearts are broken once again”: Off-duty Chicago police...
        Choosing to serve
        A legacy of “service and sacrifice”: NYPD detective dies after...
        Philadelphia Phillies honor fallen Temple University police officer...
  • On the Job
    • Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle...
      “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist...
      Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service...
      Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates...
      FBI data shows decrease in line-of-duty deaths, rise in officer...
  • Labor
    • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing...
      Phoenix City Council approves new police union contract with pay...
      Los Angeles County sheriff requests funding for recruitment, equipment
      “It’s a scary time for Cleveland”: City attracts smallest...
      Portland State University rearms campus police officers
  • Tech
    • California sheriff’s department pays $1.1 million to cyber...
      Bay Area businesses embrace AI surveillance protection amid crime...
      California family tracks down and recovers stolen e-bike using Apple...
      Indianapolis law enforcement team up with legislators to fight...
      Peeling the onion
  • Training
    • Understanding privacy coins
      Unlock your potential
      Crisis intervention team training
      What’s the best way to train law enforcement leaders?
      Ohio police officer and father of autistic son launches autism...
  • Policy
    • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after...
      Washington state on brink of decriminalizing drug possession
      California AG launches investigation into Antioch police following...
      Back the Blue Act aims to enhance penalties for killing law...
      Alaska state troopers to be equipped with body cameras by end of year
  • Health/Wellness
    • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health...
      Peacekeeper Initiative offers support and healing for retired police...
      Serenity in the saddle
      Worried about someone’s drinking?
      Thinking of pulling the pin on retirement?
  • Community
    • A catastrophic threat
      A symbol of hope
      A legacy never forgotten
      High school students participate in job shadow day with New York...
      Officers helping officers
  • Offbeat
    • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while...
      A case of mistaken identity: Oklahoma police officers respond to...
      Kansas deputy pulls over man in Bud Light costume during DUI traffic...
      “Arrest them!”: Florida residents call 9-1-1 on two angry goats...
      Minnesota deputies detain escaped emu looking for love in all the...
  • We Remember
    • Honoring Fallen Heroes
      “Our hearts are broken once again”: Off-duty Chicago police...
      Choosing to serve
      A legacy of “service and sacrifice”: NYPD detective dies after...
      Philadelphia Phillies honor fallen Temple University police officer...
  • Between the Lines
    • The unspoken truth behind the recruitment and retention crisis
      The police reform goal: use of force without options
      The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
      The rule of law is worthless without order
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

On the Job

“Above and beyond the call of duty”: Florida police officer praised for rescuing kitten trapped in car’s wheel well

APB Team Published March 27, 2023 @ 12:00 pm PDT

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

A Florida police officer recently received a letter of commendation after rescuing a kitten that was trapped in a vehicle’s wheel well last year.

According to a Facebook post from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Officer Marshall Smith was patrolling his assigned area on July 3, 2022, when he encountered a car that was blocking traffic on Blanding Boulevard.

The letter of commendation from Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters explained what happened next: “Citizens informed Officer Smith that a small kitten had climbed into the wheel well of the vehicle that was blocking traffic, and that if the car was moved, the kitten would almost certainly be killed.”

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

The tiny, terrified cat would not budge, despite several attempts to extract it from the precarious situation.

“Officer Smith immediately began his own efforts to coax the kitten out of the wheel well, but in its frightened state, the kitten resisted Officer Smith, including by biting him multiple times,” the letter stated.

Determined to rescue the kitten, Smith decided to use water to gently flush the little guy out.

“Officer Smith’s plan was met with great success and he was valiantly able to retrieve the kitten and turn him over to the citizen. Luckily for the kitten, the citizen was a cat person and decided to keep him,” the letter continued.

The cat’s new owner even decided to name him Marshall after his rescuer.

In early March, Smith received formal recognition by the Meritorious Awards Review Board, which decided to present him with the letter of commendation.

“Officer Smith’s actions during the incident clearly demonstrate his commitment to JSO’s core value of being community focused, even to our animal citizens,” the letter read. “Officer Smith is to be commended for going above and beyond the call of duty to save this kitten.” 

As one Facebook commenter put it, “Let’s give Officer Smith a round of a-paws!”

Categories: On the Job Tags: rescuing a kitten, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Marshall Smith, letters of commendation, trapped, Florida, adoption, animal rescue, cat, wheel well

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle at New Jersey mall
  • “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist refugees amidst migrant crisis without help from city
  • Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service by Denver Police Museum
  • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health and stress management programs
  • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after deadly Nashville mass shooting
  • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing shortages amid national reckoning on policing
  • Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates continue push for more speed cameras
  • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while surrounded by officers
  • A case of mistaken identity: Oklahoma police officers respond to cries for help from what turns out to be a bleating goat
  • Peacekeeper Initiative offers support and healing for retired police officers with mental health issues

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.