Louis C. Hicks is a 92-year-old WWII vet who called 911 once he noticed some power tools were missing from his backyard shed. He was hoping that the Austin Police Department would catch the thief but they did something quite different. When Officer Chasity Salazar came to his home, she said she wanted to take a look inside.

Lous knew he couldn’t hide what was going on in his home but he was hoping they would just leave and forget about it. Little did he know that the cop would be back again and this time, she would have reinforcements.

Louis was there when people needed him during WWII but now, he tries to care for himself. He is a proud individual and tends to do things the old-fashioned way. What Officer Salazar saw, however, was a man who needed help and she was ready to give it.

She was afraid for his safety because of how he was using his stove. He kept it on to keep warm but that can be very dangerous. Now, thanks to some help from the Austin Austin Police Association, Austin Cops 4 Charities, and St. David’s Foundation, he has a new electric heater and it didn’t cost him a dime.

Louis was in tears when the Officers came back to deliver the surprise. He said:

“I’ve never had no one to do nothing for me. After my mother passed away and left me to take care of my two sisters … nobody never did nothing to help me. You hate to ask anybody ’cause sometimes they’ll frown on you, and I’m a true veteran. I won’t ask. I won’t ask.”

According to Louis, the heater he had been using burned a hole in the floor so the didn’t use it any longer. His limited income didn’t allow him to get another so he relied on the stove.

Officer Salazar was doing more than going above and beyond the call of duty. She looked at it as a privilege to help a man who served during the big war.

“He’s just offered me a lot of kindness, too, so to know that he’s also served, and now I’m able to serve and give back to people like him.”

The community has also stepped in to help Louis and he is very grateful.

“It means everything. The things I’ve been trying to do since the ’40s…I’ve been asking for help. And now, it just came in. God is good.”

The Austin PD now has a running list of the items he needs, such as shirts and pants. Louis gave a lot in his day, now he gets to receive.

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