Sometimes the police get a bad reputation, but the vast majority of these men and women work hard to protect people from danger and keep everything running smoothly in their communities. Really, we have an awful lot to thank police officers and other public servants for. But one family in particular has an extra reason to be grateful for law enforcement these days.

In the video below, officer Joe Dilillo felt the call to duty when he heard a child screaming in a supermarket. When he arrived on the scene, he discovered a child with autism having a meltdown while his parents struggled to control his erratic and violent behavior. Luckily, Officer Dilillo is well-trained and knows how to handle a child with autism. He was able to step in and lend a helping hand, and the boy’s parents will be eternally grateful for that.

Dilillo quickly took over the situation and began to de-escalate it, gently calming the boy and restraining him as necessary to keep him from harming others or himself. Once Dilillo had the boy calmed down, he quickly ushered the entire family through the check-out line and to their bus stop outside so they could head home, where the boy would be able to feel calm and safe.

Thank you, Officer Dilillo, for helping a young boy with autism overcome his meltdown, and for stepping into a difficult parenting situation to save the parents some trouble! We need more amazing people like you looking out for the community!

Check out the video to see this heroic cop in action and capture the family’s gratitude following the difficult event.