- A West Jordan school resource officer gifted a bike to a student.
- The student, Aiden Hulet, needed a new bike after an accident damaged his old one.
- Officer Austin Larsen and colleagues sourced a donated bike, enhancing Aiden's school commute.
WEST JORDAN – Kindness and caring helped a student in need. Because a school resource officer stepped in, a student at West Jordan High School now has a safe and reliable way to get to class.
The student needed a new bike to get to school, and the officer searched to find him one, even though he didn't have to.
"Bigger tires, a jump seat, big handlebars, disc brakes," said Aiden Hulet, a West Jordan High School student.
Hulet, 16, is excited about his new mountain bike.
"I always wanted these kind of bikes," Hulet said.
Why he needed it was almost too much to handle.
Last month, Hulet crashed into a car while riding his old bike to school. Thankfully, Hulet wasn't seriously hurt, but his beloved bike that he relied on to get to school was damaged beyond repair.
"The fork in the apron just busted, it was like bent inwards," Hulet said. "I couldn't ride it."
Officer Austin Larsen, a West Jordan High School resource officer, said, "I also came to learn that his mom, from my knowledge, was paying for Ubers and UTA bus rides to get (him) to school."
Larsen wasn't going to let that stand, and started pedaling the idea to other officers to pitch in to get Hulet a new bike. Another police sergeant had one to spare.
"He had one laying around that was donated by a different officer at a previous date, and said 'Yeah, this one is just lying around if he wants it,'" Larsen said.
In a few short weeks, they presented Hulet with a new bike and a new helmet.
"A lot of people think about the school resource officer as the big, scary school resource officer. But like I said, he's developed such a great report with our students that it helps," said Sheldon Russell, Hulet's life skills teacher.
If the bike's here, Aiden is here. I know he rides it everywhere. He tells me.
–Austin Larsen, school resource officer
It gave Hulet a new ride and also a new friend.
"I was so happy," Hulet said. "I love talking with him at lunch and stuff."
The pair bonded over a bike, shifting their relationship into a new gear.
"Every time I see him, I see the bike pull up to the school building," Larsen said. "If the bike's here, Aiden is here. I know he rides it everywhere. He tells me."
Right now, school is out for the summer so Hulet is not using his bike to get to class. But he does have a few months to really break in the new bike before the first day of school starts.
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Brian Carlson
