A few weeks ago, a mom in Kokomo, Indiana, was having trouble getting her daughter to stay in her car seat. Finally, Brianne had had enough. She took Adalynne straight to the county jail in the hopes that one of the police officers would be willing to teach Adalynne a lesson in car seat safety. It just so happens the officer that came outside to help was Howard County Sheriff's Deputy Carl Koontz.
For 30 minutes, Officer Kootnz stood out in the cold talking to Adalynne about car seat safety. He was patient and kind, and giggled at Adalynne's sassiness. He even told Brianne that he had a little boy of his own. After snapping a photo of Officer Koontz and Adalynne, Brianne went home, her heart filled with gratitude toward the kind officer who so willingly took time out of his day to help.
Just a few weeks later, tragedy struck. Officer Kootnz was killed during a shootout while he and a fellow officer were serving a drug-related warrant. He was only 27 years old.
After news of his death, Brianne realized that the fallen officer was the same man with who she and Adalynne recently shared a heartfelt encounter. She took to Facebook and posted her photo. It's now going viral, reminding people all over the country what a great officer, husband and father he was…
[H/T: Facebook / Brianne Harness, Fox News]
On March 20th, 2016, Howard County Sheriff's Deputy Carl Koontz was killed in the line of duty. After serving on the force for three years, Officer Koontz sustained fatal injuries during a shootout while he and another officer were serving a warrant related to drug paraphernalia.
Officer Koontz was 27 years old. He was a devoted husband and father.
In a touching twist, one Indiana mother recently realized that the fallen officer was the same man who shared a sweet moment with her and her daughter — just a few weeks before his tragic death.
"A few weeks ago Adalynne was giving me lots of trouble about staying in her car seat," Brianne wrote on Facebook. "She had fought me for days before I decided enough was enough and one day I decided I was going to pull into the Howard County Jail so she could talk to an officer about car seat safety.
It just so happens the officer they sent out was Officer Kootnz."
"When he came out he asked me what was going on and so I told him the situation and he just laughed and said, "Really?" I responded yep, she needs to learn her lesson.
Officer Kootnz stood out in the cold for at least 30 minutes talking to Adalynne about car seat safety. He couldn't help but giggle every time she responded with her sassy remarks (she was not afraid that he was a cop whatsoever).
He then told us he has a little boy and asked if this is what he had to look forward to, I laughed and said oh you have no idea!"
"The news of his passing just breaks my heart," Brianne writes. "He was one of the sweetest men and officer I have met and was so patient and kind to Adalynne. Sending prayers to his family, friends and fellow officers."
Officer Koontz is survived by his wife, Cassie, and their young son, Noah.
I'm thankful that Brianne was able to capture such an amazing moment with Officer Koontz and share it with the world. Please SHARE this with your friends on Facebook.
