In this day and age, police work is often a thankless job. With the cases depicting police brutality in the media, the devoted officers of this country have lost a lot of respect. Every once in a while, however, they get a “thank you” where its least expected.
Last year, Mikayla Raji, 8, was dining with her mother Mimi Raji at the Villa Borghese Pizzeria and Restaurant in Helmetta, New Jersey.
The mother-and-daughter duo was enjoying their night and partaking in some delicious Italian food when another diner entered. Officer Joseph Quinn, of the local Jamesburg police force, had stopped by the restaurant to pick up a take-out order of food. When little Mikayla saw him, he immediately caught her eye.
Eight-year-old Mikayla approached the officer as he was waiting for his food. She greeted him with a hello and a smile, and talked with him for a bit. Before the man left, Mikayla turned to her mother and asked if they could pay for his meal.
“According to her mother and her other sister, this is the first time she’s ever done anything like this,” Chief James Craparotta of the Jamesburg Police told Inside Edition.
When officer Joseph Quinn told his colleagues about what had happened, they were stunned by the young girl’s generosity. The officer hadn’t gotten Mikayla’s name or information, but with a bit of detective work, the Department managed to figure out. That’s when they went about honoring her in a very special way.
“This was just such a kind gesture by such a sweet little girl, that we felt like we needed to do something to pay-it-forward.”
It turns out that both Mikayla’s parents had been officers with another local department. Although Mimi, Mikayla’s mother, has since retired from the force, her father, Thomas Raji, was killed by a drunk driver on the line of duty before the young girl was born.
In a post dated April 24th, 2017, commending Mikayla, the Jamesburg Police Department explained: “Mikayla has a special place in her heart for police officers. Mikayla’s father, Thomas Raji was a police officer in Perth Amboy, and was tragically killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver on 8/22/2007.”
Chief James Craparotta said, “She has a great deal of pride that her dad and mom were both police officers, and she supports, you know, the police.”
“She feels like we’re a part of her life.”
The Jamesburg Police Department was so impressed by Mikayla’s kindness, the officers decided to start a GoFundMe to help raise money towards her education. Now, one year later, they’ve raised a whopping $15,000 of their final $20,000 goal.
“She said her favorite store is Barnes & Noble, so she likes to read,” Craparotta said.
“So I think she’s a pretty good student, and I think she’s going to go far.”
In addition to the fundraiser, the Jamesburg Police also invited Mikayla to become an honorary department member, so she could lead their Memorial Day parade. It will be in honor of both her and her Dad.
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