It began as just another call in Jacksonville. A homeless man, stranded in his electric wheelchair, sat helplessly on the sidewalk. The chair had lost power. With no way to move forward and no way to transport the heavy device in a police cruiser, he was stuck.
That’s when Officer Matt Krueger arrived.
The man couldn’t take a step. The fire department said they couldn’t transport him either. Most people would have seen an impossible situation. But Officer Krueger saw only a human being in need.
So he did what many might not even consider. He leaned into the back of the powerless chair, gripped the handles, and began to push.
Seven Blocks of Compassion
Block after block, the officer pushed the man through busy intersections, down long stretches of sidewalk, under the Florida sun. The chair wasn’t light — once the motor lost power, maneuvering it was like pushing a small car. But step by step, he moved them forward together.
Seven blocks later, they arrived at the Sulzbacher Center — a place where the man could get a hot meal, a safe bed, and help with placement services. What had started as a desperate, immovable moment had ended in dignity and care.
Along the way, something else happened. A friendship began.
The man, once frustrated and stranded, now smiled beside the officer. And before leaving, Officer Krueger pulled out his phone, snapped a selfie, and captured the moment. Not for glory. Not for praise. Just as a reminder of what one simple act of service can mean.
Witnessed and Remembered
Ms. Jean Lloyd, who happened to see the first part of the scene, shared photos of Officer Krueger’s actions. “Thank you to JSO Officer Matt Krueger for your good Samaritan work yesterday,” she wrote. “A homeless man was stranded in his electric wheelchair because it lost power. Officer Krueger pushed this man seven blocks to the Sulzbacher Center for a meal and adult placement.”
Soon after, Officer Krueger himself reflected on the moment: “Pushed this man who was broken down in a motorized wheelchair seven blocks to a shelter. It would not fit in my police car, JFRD said they could not transport, and he couldn’t walk one step. Those things aren’t easy to push when they are out of juice — but we became friends, and we took a selfie.”
A Reminder of Service
What might have looked like an inconvenience became a powerful reminder of what true service is all about. A uniform, a badge, a gunbelt — they symbolize authority. But on that day, they also symbolized compassion, humility, and a willingness to do the hard thing simply because it was the right thing.
Seven blocks. A heavy wheelchair. And a lesson: sometimes serving your community isn’t about the calls you answer, but about the moments where you stop, push forward, and walk beside someone until they’re safe.
Great work, Officer Krueger. You didn’t just push a wheelchair. You carried hope, dignity, and kindness with every step.
