In 2016, 19-year-old Jourdan Duncan of Vallejo, California, was walking home from his job in Benicia. His shift ended at midnight, so when police Corporal Kirk Keffer saw him walking down an ill-lit street at such an odd hour, he stopped to question him. When Duncan explained that he had been walking to and from work because his car had broken down and he didn’t want to burden anyone with giving him rides, Cpl. Keffer offered him a ride home. During the ride, he learned that Duncan was saving money to attend college and become a police officer. Inspired, Keffer later asked his fellow officers to use their police association funds to buy Duncan a bicycle. Not only did they do that, but they started a GoFundMe account to get Duncan a car.
As of early 2017, the GoFundMe account had raised $40,000. Duncan used a small portion of that to purchase a car, and is using the rest to pay for college, while continuing to work. He still plans on becoming a police officer.
One wonders what would have happened if Cpl. Keffer hadn’t been patrolling that street that night, or if he hadn’t stopped Duncan and offered him a ride, or presented him with a bicycle, or started a GoFundMe account. Although Duncan’s determination likely would have seen him through college and becoming a police officer, Keffer’s actions will positively impact him and inspire him to change a life, as well. Thank you, Cpl. Keffer.