Next Day Access Memphis recently connected with an injured School Resource Officer (SRO) and donated a wheelchair ramp during his recovery.
Rick Singletary of Brighton, TN worked as a police officer for twenty-two years, but his current job at Atoka Elementary School has surprised him the most. “The kids ask all kinds of questions,” Rick remarked. “They love going in for hugs or fist bumps, and the parents show a lot of appreciation.” Each morning, he is at the front of the school helping unload the buses, greeting parents and students, and ensuring a safe school environment.
The Monday following Spring Break, the day began just like any other until Rick heard a frantic voice over the radio. A child who had been known to elope was running into the street, outpacing many of the teachers in the vicinity. Even worse, the flashing school zone signs had not been turned on after Spring Break, so cars were going the regular speed limit. Rick didn’t think twice; he immediately sprang into action, catching up with the child nearly fifty yards out just before he made his way into the busy street. The child spun around and went straight towards the road. “All I had left to do was dive and grab his feet,” Rick recalls, and that’s exactly how the fiasco ended. After getting up off the ground, Rick noticed some pain in his leg. “I took some ibuprofen like my wife suggested and went about my day. The next day, I woke up and my leg was nearly black.” Luckily, the student was uninjured.
Rick’s kneecap was broken, and his mobility was greatly limited throughout his home. When his wife struggled to get him out of the house during a storm, he knew he needed to find a temporary solution. “It’s not about me, but it’s about making it easy for her,” Rick said of his wife, who he’s been with for 37 years. “She’s doing so much for me.” Moved by his fearless actions, Next Day Access Memphis was more than happy to donate a temporary wheelchair ramp while Rick recovers.
“When I heard the story of Rick Singletary’s injury due to his heroic act, I was moved,” Greg Inman, Director of Franchise Operations, states. “We don’t hear these stories of bravery every day. We at Next Day Access Memphis didn’t think twice about providing him with a wheelchair ramp during his recovery. We need more people like officer Rick Singletary!”
In his recovery time, he enjoys spending time with his family and his two dogs, Snelly and Fluffy. When asked what he is most excited for when he’s better, Rick immediately responded with, “I want to get back to work. I miss those kids so much.”
To contact Next Day Access Memphis, visit the microsite here: https://www.nextdayaccess.com/memphis-tn/
