“Struck by their compassion:” Viral social media post shows MPD officers helping young man with autism

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A social media post showing three Milwaukee Police Officers helping a young man with autism who was lost is getting a lot of attention online.

“I was struck by their compassion,” said Wendy.

The photo shows the young man hugging one of the officers before they reunited him with his family.

“It was touching,” she said.

It all started when Wendy was driving through Humboldt Park when she noticed a young man wandering. He didn’t have socks and wasn’t dressed for the weather.

“My antenna went up and something told me to turn around,” she said.

She kept a close eye on him as he made his way throughout the park and called 911. She was on the phone with dispatch giving them information about his whereabouts until police arrived.

“They were really kind, they were really patient. I was impressed by their professionalism,” said Wendy.

Wendy says she knows what it’s like to have a loved one with autism wander off.

“We had a similar situation in my family where my niece’s son got out of a house and was gone, it was absolutely terrifying,” she said.

A good Samaritan found her nephew and helped reunite him with her family. She says she’s thankful she saw the young man when she did so he could be reunited with his.

Her message to police, “thank you, thank you.”