Officer Martin, who joined the Fort Smith Police Department in Arkansas in 2015, was shopping in Fort Smith one November day in 2019. During his shopping trip, he received information that a couple with children was attempting to shoplift groceries, as reported by Newsweek.
Upon arrival, Officer Martin arrested the man but chose not to apprehend his wife. Before leaving the store, he personally paid for the groceries the couple had tried to steal and handed them over to the woman. He informed her that he had covered the cost and encouraged her to seek assistance if needed.
In a compassionate gesture, Officer Martin also communicated to authorities that he wanted to ensure the children of the man taken into custody would not go without food. Officer Kenneth Martin’s compassionate actions reflected his genuine concern for the well-being of the family