As a fireman of 14 plus years with the City of Las Vegas, it is a scene I have responded to a thousand times. Cars are smashed, air bags are deployed, nerves are rattled and emotions are high as injuries are assessed and frantic cell phone calls are made to loved ones. It is my job to bring calm to the situation and take decisive action.

Last week however, the emotional call was to me.

My 16 year old son had been in a motor vehicle accident. His voice raised and clearly excited, he said, “Dad, I just blew up my car!”

Knowing my son, this could mean any number of things, so I knew my first question had to be very direct and leading.

“You what?” I said.

Not exactly the way it played out in my head but… he did clarify “blew up” meant he had rear-ended a suburban on the boulevard and, though no one was injured, his car was “done and it was totally his fault”.

In Vegas and unable to personally help my inexperienced young driver, I made one brief call to my good friend of over 20 years, Metro Officer Allen Johnson. Allen already had the call on his radar and reassured me that he would take good care of my boy, whom he has known his whole life. He did just that!

He also kept me informed during the now very long one hour drive home (and confirmed that the car was in fact, “done”).

I arrived to find my son safe and sound, and now calm, in the very capable hands of two of those who protect and serve our little community every day: officers Allen Johnson of LVMPD and Trooper Chris Bennett of NHP.

Chris handled the accident very professionally and was great with my son. He took great care in reassuring my son and explaining the citation and how my son should proceed with facing the consequences and putting behind him, the accident he admitted causing.

My most sincere thanks and appreciation on behalf of my son and myself goes out to these two officers, as well as the owner of the suburban, Jill Williams, and her two employees; and to Hugh and Jana Ward for the compassion, care and understanding they showed my son on scene.

It will be an expensive lesson for him on the one hand, but a very valuable one for him about how to treat your neighbors in times of need, on the other.

Fortunately, all of the safety features of the vehicles worked and no one was injured.

It does however give me great comfort knowing that I live in a community where my neighbors are the people who will be coming to the aide of my family should the need arise and that they care as much as I do.

Thank you to all who were involved in the positive outcome of my son’s tragic day and to the many concerned friends who called to make sure he was not hurt.

Kyle Cardinal