Somerset Police, local businesses, come to aid of disabled resident

The Somerset community recently came together to help a resident in need.

According to Somerset Police, in late 2019, Officers Lima and Fishbein were called to a home in Somerset to check on the well being of a disabled resident who had a hazardous gas leak, no heat, no hot water, little food, and no money. Officers Lima and Fishbein responded to the man’s home and found that there were many issues at the residence, but their first concern was to keep the man warm. When the officers left the man’s home, they immediately went to CVS to purchase a heated blanket with their own money. They then brought the man back the blanket to keep him warm.

Officer Lima then contacted the SPD’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit and asked them if they could help the man. Officers Kelly and Dempsey then began reaching out to businesses and individuals to see what they could do to help while at the same time continually checking on the disabled man. The POP Unit contacted Home Depot to see if they could be of service. Bob Lesieur, the store manager, donated a space heater, hot water tank and all materials needed to repair the man’s home. The unit also began looking for local plumber’s who would assist in fixing gas and plumbing problems at the home. ARS Plumbing and Heating stepped up right away and installed the new hot water tank, while repairing all heating and plumbing issues. Overall ARS donated 30 hours of labor.

According to Somerset Police, Saint Vincent de Paul Society also donated the use of another space heater, food and an electric hot plate.