Two Los Angeles police officers took time out from fighting crime to help a 14-year-old boy look his best on his first day of high school.

Officers Jonathan Maldonado and Alberto Ladesma were patrolling in the Boyle Heights neighborhood on Aug. 13 when a female driver and her son flagged them down.

"I saw the kid waving at me and the mother asked if I could help with his tie through her car window," said Maldonado, a 10-year veteran with the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollenbeck Division.

The officers pulled their patrol car over to help the boy who was rushing to get to Bishop Mora Salesian High School for orientation.

"[The mother] was almost embarrassed and said she had been looking at YouTube videos to learn how to tie a tie," said Maldonado.

The officer described the short exchange as a blessing, saying there is more to cops than dealing with criminal issues.

"We're here to help the community we serve," Maldonado said. "Sometimes people are just scared to ask."

Although he didn't catch the boy's name, Maldonado said the teen was very thankful for the gesture and enthusiastic about starting high school.

"I thank God I had the opportunity to help someone and make an impact in their lives," he said.