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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — A Cottonwood Heights police officer was recognized Tuesday night for two separate circumstances in which the people she helped said she went above and beyond her daily duties.
"There are a lot of things that people don't see," officer Vickie Bagshaw said after she was recognized with an award before the city council and mayor. "It's an amazing job and it's nice to be able to help people."
In one case, Blanche Bills said Bagshaw did far more than required to help her after her car accident last month near 1700 E. Fort Union Blvd.
"She stayed with me and didn't leave me until she knew I was OK," Bills told those in attendance at the council meeting, her neck still in a brace and her arm in a sling. "Vickie is a hero in our household."
Bills said Bagshaw had visited her numerous times in the weeks since her accident — something Bills said the officer did not have to do.
"We had this made for you because we love you," a teary eyed Bills told Bagshaw in the meeting. "It's because of you that my kids have their mom today."
Bagshaw wasn't expecting to be recognized for another case that came to Chief Robby Russo's attention recently.
During a normal day's work, she encountered a 94-year-old woman when investigating a call about a barking dog.
Russo said Bagshaw heard the woman say with a "frail" voice that she couldn't get up, and she entered the home and rendered aid.
"And then, unbeknownst to us, whenever she had down time for the next two months, she would sneak back to that woman's house and spend nights with her and [the woman] would tell her stories of her childhood and sing to the officer," Russo said.
Bagshaw said she visited the woman almost every day, until her passing.
"It was such a wonderful act of compassion," Russo said.
Russo said officers do many things out of the public eye to help people.
As for Bagshaw, Russo commended her actions.
"I'm very proud to call her one of ours," he said.
