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New Castle, Del. (WTXF) - A Delaware family got stranded in South Carolina when their car broke down while they were driving home over Memorial Day weekend. Luckily, for them, they ran into a trooper who went above and beyond the call of duty and now has a lifelong fan.
A video posted on Facebook is getting tons of likes and shares--all because of an outstanding officer and an adorable 6-year-old New Castle boy.
The video shows South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Jay Gardner giving Lamar Richardson a lesson in law enforcement.
The two met after Lamar and his family were on the way back home to Delaware from a family reunion in Alabama. His cousin 22-year-old Jaybryana Lopez says they ran over a metal rod in the road coming through South Carolina.
"When we went over it, it popped our tire, took out the engine and the oil. Oil leak and everything," said Lopez. They called 911 for help and Trooper Gardner showed up to save the day.
"He was just like what can I do to help?"
Lopez says he drove them nearly an hour out of his jurisdiction to the airport to get another rental car. That's when Trooper Gardner and Lamar became buddies.
"He let Lamar play all in his car, he let him try different buttons and pressing the horn. Everything possible he let him do and Lamar was just so excited," said Lopez. She says Trooper Gardner even stayed until they were in a new car and back on the road. As they pulled off Lamar made a surprising admission.
"He was like I want to be a cop and that's all he's been saying since then is I want to be cop," said Lopez. The family posted everything on Facebook because they wanted to acknowledge the trooper who went above and beyond to help them and make an impression on Lamar. They say the trooper's wife also posted that she was so emotional seeing her husband come home with a happier story than normal.
"She was so happy to hear about him being happy when he got home and helping us and making my little cousin want to be a cop," said Lopez.