Last week as Kambia Hart worried about how she would be able to pay her rent, she couldn’t have imagined that the help she needed would have come from the Garland Police Department. Hart had plans to get a title loan on her car when she was involved in an auto accident with School Resource Officer James Brezik.
Her first thought after hitting the squad car was that she would be going to jail but Brezik quickly assured her that he knew it was an accident and she would not be arrested. Hart explained to the officer that she was having a bad day and had a lot on her mind. When her husband arrived at the accident scene, he also said that they had a lot on their minds because they had lost their jobs and were unable to pay their July rent.
Brezik felt led to try to help the family, so he approached fellow school resource officers and others from GPD to join the effort. In a few days, he and other GPD staff presented Hart a check to cover her July rent as well as a $450 Walmart gift card to help with groceries. They even purchased toys for the children.
“Fortunately, we had enough resources and could give back to the citizens here in Garland,” Brezik said.
Hart immediately began to cry when Brezik gave her the check.
“I don’t even know how to feel right now…It just helps so much.” Hart said.
Through tears, she continued to thank the officers for their kindness.
Brezik was grateful that GPD was able to help.
“I work with an amazing group of people here at the police department, you know, they really stepped up. It was a team effort,” Brezik said. “And times like this where people are getting laid off, and you know money’s tight, fortunately, we had enough to give back to the people of Garland.”