RICHMOND, Ind. — A small gesture has left a permanent mark on the Richmond Police Department in the wake of Officer Seara Burton’s death.
At Burton’s funeral Monday, Lt. Donnie Benedict recounted the “most valuable gift” he’d seen given to honor her life and service.
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Benedict said a stranger came into the Richmond Police Department on Sept. 1, the day Burton was taken off life support at Miami Valley Hospital. The person gave an information officer a “wrinkled, dirty, well-used envelope” with the words “People from the street” written on it.
The envelope contained eight $1 bills. The person explained that some of the homeless people from Richmond took up a donation from “the people on the streets” and wanted to donate it to Burton’s family.
Benedict noted that of the many valuable gifts given in honor of Burton, none were as valuable as the gift of “eight $1 bills in a dirty white envelope.”
“That gift of $8 from the people who know not where they will sleep at night, have their next meal, or know whether they will be wet, dry, cold or warm gave a gift of love and kindness like no other,” Benedict said.
Richmond Police showed off the $8 in a framed case during the funeral.