Heartfelt Gratitude: Moroccan Man Honors Rotterdam Police with Blue Heart for Compassionate Support During Family Tragedy

On May 14th, Samih found his father unconscious on the bed when he returned home in Rotterdam. His father had suffered a heart attack. Samih immediately called for emergency services and began resuscitating him. The police rushed to the scene and provided all the necessary assistance. They continued to resuscitate his father, but it was already too late. "After they took over the resuscitation, I blacked out. I couldn’t think clearly, but thanks to their professional attitude, I calmed down and was able to provide the right answers to the ambulance staff," he recounts.

The police officers stayed with Samih, supporting and comforting him, until the arrival of his younger sister who lives in Dordrecht. "With a caring hand on my shoulder, the police asked if there was anyone I could call. They stayed with me until my sister arrived. It was priceless. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to do." Samih was deeply touched by the police’s compassionate attitude. "I’ve always thought that the police just do their job, and that’s it. But this empathetic and social side, I didn’t expect it. The neighborhood officer even reached out to me the next day. She even gave me her phone number. It really touched me," he testifies.

After the burial of his father in Morocco, Samih wanted to express his gratitude to the police for supporting him during this difficult time. That’s why he asked the Waardering Erkenning Politie (WEP) Foundation to award them a Blue Heart. "It’s a small blue heart with a golden border. A pin as a symbol of recognition and appreciation, which citizens and officers can give to someone who deserves it," explains Lies Fris, project manager at WEP. And she adds: "It has a restorative effect, both for the officer and the citizen." Created twelve years ago, this Foundation works to promote recognition and appreciation for the police.

The Blue Heart award ceremony took place in an emotional atmosphere. Samih was present, "with a bouquet of flowers and Merci chocolate boxes." "It was restorative for everyone, as both parties were able to tell their story. Honestly, it visibly touched everyone," Fris details. For Samih, this recognition of the police helps him with his grieving process. "Offering the Blue Heart was, unconsciously, restorative for me. So many people still think: the police are only there to hand out fines. But they do so much more. Behind that uniform, there is a human being with emotions. I will never forget that."