PBSO Deputies Replaces 9 Year Old Stolen Bike
Here’s a feel-good story for you.
We responded to a citizen’s complaint about her nine year old son who was robbed of his bicycle by force. Her son had just received the new bicycle as a gift two days prior. D/S Gerbasi quickly established a perimeter and utilized all available resources in the course of his investigation to include multiple K-9 Units and the aviation unit. Unfortunately, all efforts to locate the suspect yielded negative results. Cpl. Charles Johnson also assisted in the search for the suspect.
Both Cpl. Johnson and D/S Gerbasi immediately noticed the emotional impact of this traumatic event on the nine year old boy. Knowing that the family did not have the financial support to replace the bicycle, both deputies began to visualize a plan. Due to the traumatic effect of being a victim in a robbery case, they wanted the young boy to be able to reflect back and view this law enforcement encounter in a positive light.
Cpl. Johnson and D/S Gerbasi decided to take it upon themselves to go Walmart and purchase a new bicycle for the child with their own money. Upon delivering the bicycle to the child, he was overwhelmed with joy and greatly expressed his appreciation. The mother of the child fought back tears and thanked both deputies for their generosity. In their efforts to right a wrong, the deputies coordinated with Walmart and they donated a helmet, lights, and a bicycle lock to ensure the safety of the child.
Both deputies have gone above and beyond the call of duty to their community. Their efforts to maintain a positive image of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office have not gone unnoticed. Their actions have reflected great credit upon themselves, City of Lake Worth, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
May they be commended for their performance and a job well done.
