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Somerville Officer Receives Beyond Call Of Duty Award For Act Of Kindness

SOMERVILLE (CBS) -- The Somerville police officer who sent flowers and a comforting note to a woman she pulled over received special recognition from the department.

Officer Ashley Catatao had pulled over Robin Sutherland, of Winchester, for speeding. She had planned to give Sutherland a warning but when she returned to the car, she saw Sutherland visibly distraught. Sutherland was on her way to visit her 90-year-old mother after the family learned she was going into hospice care.

Catatao decided to send Sutherland some flowers and a caring note that read: "I'm very sorry about your mother. I hope you find comfort in knowing she lived a long life and will continue to live on in your heart and in your memories."

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Officer Ashley Catatao was honored with the Beyond the Call of Duty Award. (Courtesy: Somerville Police Department)

"Officer Catatao didn't send the flowers for the recognition she subsequently received from the news media: she did it because she cared," Somerville chief of police David Fallon said in a public statement.

"Her actions brought praise to the department, to the mayor, and to the city, and typify what it means to go beyond the call of duty," he said.  

 

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