In St. Tammany Parish, Deputy Dustin Byers had pulled over a driver for going too fast on Highway 21. But as he approached the car, he quickly realized this wasn’t your average traffic stop.
The man, visibly shaken and emotional, explained he was on his way to a funeral. On top of his grief, he was struggling with something simple but symbolic — he couldn’t get his tie on straight.
Rather than issue a citation, Deputy Byers paused. He helped the man fix his tie. He listened. He stood quietly with him, offering compassion in the middle of a highway shoulder.
Because in moments like these, what people need isn’t punishment — it’s just a little grace.