Local constables make dinner for a Cambridge man in need

When responding to a break and enter call, not a lot of police officers would expect to end up making the caller dinner.

That’s just what happened to Constable Heather Burgess and Constable Jay Vankalsbeek of Waterloo Regional Police on November 6th.

The caller was a 69-year-old Cambridge man who was confused, and when the constables arrived they found no one else was in the house and the man was bedridden with a broken pelvis.

When police asked him when he’d last eaten, they found out it had been two days and Constable Burgess jumped into action, making him a leftover roast beef and potato dinner from the man’s fridge, while Constable Vankalsbeek made sure the man was comfortable and even got the television remote for him.

“I picture myself in that situation where you go two days without eating and you’re hungry, and there are two people in your home who have the ability to make you something and you just walk out the door?” said Constable Burgess. “I mean, it just seemed like the human thing to do.”

The two said they had a nice conversation with the man, and officers have checked in on him since and he seems to be improving.

Inspector Mike Haffner with WRPS added that this is the human side of policing that the public doesn’t often get to see.

“We respond to these people, we look after them, no matter what they’re struggling with, whether it be emotional or physical issues, and the concern is to make sure they’re safe when we leave, and in this case, properly fed.”

Constable Vankalsbeek, who has been with WRPS for 17 years, said it was overall a good experience and they couldn’t imagine doing anything less.

“We’re not robots, we’re people too. And it’s a good feeling, it’s a warm fuzzy and it leaves you feeling good about what you do.”