While officials tout a decline in the crime rate in Camden, police in the city took a step to help a family in need — and it wasn't crime related. A mother desperate to feed her children called 911 as a last resort. Service to her phone had been shut off and she wasn't able to call anyone else. She told the dispatcher she had no food for her four young children, who hadn't eaten since the previous day, according to the Camden County Police Department.

In the call, the mother said she had been to local churches and her food stamps wouldn't be coming in for about 45 days. (Hear audio of the call below).

Dispatcher Tondaleya Bagby heard the call come in and requested that an officer go to her residence at the Crestbury Apartments to check on the family. Officer David Hinton went to the apartment and discovered that there was no food for the children. He then went to a local take-out restaurant and bought a variety of items that he delivered to the family.



Bagby then relayed the family's situation to her mother, Sergeant Tracy Seigel. Bagby, Seigel, retired Lieutenant Scott Bagby and Lieutenant Janell Simpson then pooled their money and made a trip to the grocery store. They purchased 10 bags of food, including milk, bread, cereal, lunch meat, toiletries and a variety of other items for the family. Bagby and Seigel delivered the groceries to the family that night. The family was overwhelmed and extremely thankful, police said. As a result of their actions, Hinton and Seigel were named the Camden County Police Department's Officers of the Month.