DENVILLE - This just goes to show that you never know who's watching.
When Denville Police Officer William Underwood got home from work Sunday night, his wife asked him "Who were the two Denville officers that changed a veteran's flat tire on Route 46?" and pointed to a Facebook post made by a driver who had spotted it.
That surprised Underwood because while he and Officer David Longo were helping the World War II veteran the two "never saw anyone drive by slow or even notice what we were doing."
"We just wanted to help him," Underwood said.
The post about the officers' good deed on the page of the Facebook group Northern New Jersey All Incidents has received more than 1,400 "likes" since being created.
Around 4 p.m. Underwood was on patrol when he came across a car stopped in the right lane of Route 46 between the onramps for Route 80 west and Route 53 south.
The driver of the disabled vehicle, an 89-year-old veteran from Caldwell named William, was going to visit a friend at the hospital, but struck a curb and got a flat tire, Underwood said.
The man was awaiting the arrival of a roadside assistance company, who had told him "We'll get back to you," which, Underwood said, "means hours and hours on a holiday weekend."
"I asked him if he had a spare, which he did in the trunk, and then I called Dave to come help. Dave and I took turns changing the tire and watching out for passing traffic," Underwood said. "But, once we got the spare on, it was basically flat, so he had to follow me to a gas station so he could get some air."
The officers then parted ways with William, who was very grateful for the help, but eager to get home because he was concerned about driving on the spare tire, Underwood said.
Underwood has been on the force for more than 20 years and serves as the department's D.A.R.E. officer, as well as the school resource officer for K-8 schools in the district.
Longo, who began at the department five years ago, starts as the new school resource officer at Morris Knolls High School in September.
Kimberly Redmond may be reached at kredmond@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kr0618. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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