Sometimes, even the smallest tokens of kindness in Fort Dodge do not go unnoticed, even from those for whom it’s expected.

Such was the case for the Fort Dodge Police Department’s Sgt. Jody Chansler, who literally went out of his way to help a stranded motorist last Saturday morning.

After coming across a man whose car ran out of gas, Lt. Matt Wilson voice concerned for the driver, an elderly gentleman who just picked up his dog from surgery. It was a cold day and the tow truck was at least 45 minutes out.

So rather than waiting for the common solution to arrive at First Avenue South near 29th Street, Chansler ran home to grab his own gas cans.

As it turned out, the car battery by that time was dead, too, prompting Officer Nick Ruggles to bring in a battery pack to jump start the vehicle.

And though the acts were nothing extraordinary, the officers said, it was perhaps a small example of going the extra mile that made a tangible difference for someone that day.

“We did not do anything extraordinary, we did what we always do as a team and department,” said Chansler. “These guys are amazing and our department has many officers that do these same thing, being good citizens.”

“These types of encounters occur on a regular basis and we simply consider it part of our daily duties,” said Capt. Ryan Gruenberg, public information officer. “The officers here take great pride in helping those within the community and strive to make Fort Dodge a great place to be. Every scenario is unique, and officers continually find ways to better the situation for those they interact with on a daily basis.”

Even with the small gestures, the dedication and sincerity of the department shined through.