Yeshivaworld spoke with an individual last night, who told us an absolutely amazing story in which a NY State Trooper went above-and-beyond the call of duty. Mr. Schwartz (name changed) left Boro Park at approximately 1:00PM to return to his home in Montreal Canada. He stopped with his wife at a Boro Park Kosher food establishment, and purchased a few sandwiches so he would have food for the trip.
He stopped at a NY State Rest Area near Albany to wash and eat his sandwiches. Naturally, his wife removed her diamond ring to wash her hands before eating. She placed the ring inside the bag from the food establishment, washed her hands, and sat down outside with her husband to eat their meal. They Bentched, threw their garbage out, got back into the car, and continued on their way to their home in Montreal.
It was not until 11:30PM when she realized that she left her diamond ring in the bag – which was now thrown out!
Her husband quickly called the NY State Police which gave him the phone number of the particular rest area. They called, and were told that all garbage was removed into their large garbage bins at the rest area.
They were at a dead end.
He called back the State Police, and they transferred him to a state trooper by the name of Leston Sheely (Troop B). For some strange reason, the Trooper took his name, cell number and description of the bag – with obvious Hebrew letters on it – and told him he was heading to the rest area to look for the diamond ring.
The trooper arrived at the rest area, put on a pair of gloves and climbed INTO the garbage bin – and after a half hour of rummaging through dirty, smelly garbage, he found the diamond ring!
The trooper called Mr. Schwartz with the good news, and made arrangements to pick up the ring the following day.
Mr. Schwartz contacted Rabbi Bernard Freilich, special assistant to the Superintendent of the NY State Police and asked him to convey his sincere appreciation to the Trooper, the State Police Superintendent, and the NYS Governors office. “The good deed that this Trooper did must be commended”, Rabbi Freilich told Yeshivaworld. “In all my years working with law enforcement, I have never heard of an officer climbing into a garbage bin to look for a diamond ring – for someone he has never met!”
Yeshivaworld feels that it would be a tremendous Kiddush Hashem if everyone would take a moment to show appreciation to the officer and send an email to [email protected] attention Trooper Leston Sheely (Troop B).
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40 Responses
amaizing ive been traveling to montreal for years never heard of something like this in my life …you see we do have great cops out there
Wow! What a story!
Why did she take off her ring? It is only for the mikvah in which there can be no hindrances, when
washing for bread it is unnecessary.
Kol Hakovod! Wow!,
Why is unnecessary, isnt it a Chatzizah?
i sent this to taht email address!
Attention: Trooper Leston Sheely
There is no way we can show enough appreciation
For your concern, and dedication,
You rummaged through the garbage, such determination
You got involved in the investigation!
It was your unbelievable effort and motivation
that spared this couple aggravation,
And you addressed the situation
Without hesitation
With amazing consideration,
We give you blessings without cessation
Thanks for your cooperation,
If only there were more like you in this nation
Of todays generation
We give you our congratulations!
Thanks for finding the DIAMOND!
after reading about lestons selfless act
i felt compelled to wrie him
it is very refreshing and honestly shocking to hear of a state trooper doing an unorthodox/ uncalled/ beyond the duty act such as this officer leston sheely did on behalf of the women who lost her ring
we all have our preconceived notion of state troopers who are paid to catch speeders and fill their monthly ticket required quota
we don’t envision them like the rest of us plain citizens
to hear a story like this brings to focus that yes their is another human compassionate side as well to the officers who are assigned to make sure our inter state highways are safe for us to arrive at our destinations safe and sound kudos and our hats off to trooper leston sheely may you be rewarded with a promotion and commended for your most benevolent act
mr XXXXX
A23 are you a Rabbi? Can I ask you all of my shailos? Why don’t you start a website or a call in site like 1800 dial a heter?
Rabbi A23 –
Really? Where did you get that from?
I’m getting goose bumps.
its private
your in the wrong business you should become a badchon
I sent the followng:
Dear Trooper Sheely,
Wow! What a mentch you are! New York State has some terrific public servents, but you are truly a fine example of what integrity and dedication to service is all about.
In Los Angeles, our officers’ moto is, “to protect and serve.” YOUR service sets a standard for the whole country!
Best, XXXX XXXX
Dear Trooper Sheely,
On behalf of our communty,
I would like to thank you for your care and consideration in helping out the couple in trouble and finding the ring against all odds. It is not that you found it, as much as you tried to make a difference.
No, I do not know them personally but if you have to know one thing about the Jewish community it is that- its all for one and one for all. So thank you for being the kind of Police officer that my Father taught me to repect and honor.
You should always be able to bring people joy and and have only happyness in your life.
The lord should bless you and your family with continued good
Health.
XXXXXX XXXXXX
Brooklyn Ny
Trooper Sheely,
I just received an email describing how you helped out in a most superb
way a fellow American. Your actions are very commendable and were above
and beyond the call of duty. Your honesty and willingness to help out a
person in need, helps the state troopers earn our respect and
admiration.
With much thanks,
XXXXXX XXXXXX
dwkl1- what makes u think im not a badchon? lol im so not
we have lost more than one ring in our family by women taking it off to wash dishes etc.
itsprivate
you evidently have a talant/gift from the one above
develop and use it to benefit the rest of humanity besides the mitzva you may be able to have a parnosa from it as well
ps you dont necessarily have to be a badchon you can write poems for newspapers etc w/o ever entering the public arena
may we all learn from Leston
i feel bad for that husband
how lit up was that rest stop at midnight?
Dear Officer Sheely,
Kudos! I just read the story about the returned ring. It is so wonderful to read positive stories in the news. Your actions went above and beyond the call of duty, and reflect an inner compassion that is, unfortunately, all to uncommon.
Some people wear uniforms to achieve honor. You bring honor to your uniform.
Thank you for your day to day work serving the public.
Sincerely, a proud New Yorker.
Dear Officer Sheely,
Kudos! I just read the story about the returned ring. It is so wonderful to read positive stories in the news. Your actions went above and beyond the call of duty, and reflect an inner compassion that is, unfortunately, all to uncommon.
Some people wear uniforms to achieve honor. You bring honor to your uniform.
Thank you for your day to day work serving the public.
Sincerely, a proud New Yorker,
it’s only not a chatzitzah if she doesn’t take it off to knead bread and the like.
I bet Officer Sheely is a former Marine.
Semper Fidelis!
“wow”
This trooper is an example of “Ohr Layehudim”. How many among us would put in the effort and in addition turn over the diamond, especialy for a “NISHT INZERER”? May we all be “Ohr LaGoyim”. This cop is a Diamond of a human!
Trooper Leston Sheely you are really a GREAT TROOPER
First of all this is a great story. And although I think it’s nice to write an email, at the same time I think we should try to write them without patronizing. I’m sure everyone has the best of intentions but I feel that some of the letters sound a bit like “you didn’t have to do it but thanks for finding our Jewish $ now I’ll respect you”
I think it would be best to just make it simple, genuine and give a blessing to him and his family.
Just trying to help!
Maybe this will clarify the ring/washing issue.
Before I was married, I had a ring that I wore all the time (sleeping, showering, swimming, and, yes, even kneading dough). I asked a shaila about wearing it for washing. The psak was as follows:
Until I get married, I can wear it to wash, as there is nothing I take it off for. After I get married, I must take it off for washing, as I will be taking it off for Mikva, and as such its status changes.
Hope this was helpful.
Hey Hey Sammy,
Its Elul, or are you ignorant of that as well????
God Bless this trooper!
more like him & the world would be a better place.
As we can see there are different psakim concerning whether a woman has to take off her ring. Each according to his Rov aka Eilu v’eilu
GUT SHABBOS!
Great story!
re: “itsprivate” wrote one of the best pieces published in YW several months ago type poem in the search box. it is worth re-reading.
As a NYPD Chaplain and Liason, I would like to publicly commened the actions of the trooper.
A few more like you, and the world would be a better place
Shame that the trooper is waaaaay upstate NY.
We could use him in our neighborhoods!
May god protect this officer from harms way for doing this amazing act of chesed/kindness.
AMEN!
yeshivaworld, please let us know if this officer will get an award for this. if not we should write albany demanding one.
Actual letter (eMail) send:
Dear Officer Sheely,
I just read the story about the returned ring. Thank you for everything you do every day that does not make it into the news! This story is just the tip of the iceberg.
Sincerely,
The Editors
Kosher Travel Info
Regarding taking off the ring, please refer to your LOR for a posuk, not comments on a website.
The real Kidush Hahem would be for the ring owner to pay the State of NY the salary of the officer for the x amount of hours he spent on this. The officer and NYS were not mechyav to do this.
thank you mdlevine – i see you liked it…..