Deputy Pulls Driver Over for Speeding and Learns He’s Going to a Funeral. His Sweet Response Goes Viral

A Louisiana sheriff’s deputy is gaining attention after he stopped a driver for speeding, only to learn the man was going to a funeral. So, the deputy helped him with his tie. 

Deputy Dustin Byers recently pulled the unnamed driver over on Highway 21 in St. Tammany Parish, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook on Sunday, June 22.

“The man explained he was on his way to a funeral and was having a tough day,” authorities said. “To top it off, he couldn’t get his tie right.”

Byers didn’t hesitate to help the man. In a picture shared by the sheriff’s office, the deputy can be seen tying the other man’s tie on the side of the road. 

“REMINDER: compassion still exists, even on the side of the road,” officials continued.

The post, entitled “A Traffic Stop Comes With a Side of Compassion,” has been shared more than 2,000 times as of Wednesday, June 25. Many people who viewed the story were appreciative of the thoughtful act, though some wondered if the driver got a ticket. When contacted by PEOPLE, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the man did receive a speeding citation and declined to provide further comment.

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“This right here is a powerful reminder that kindness knows no uniform, no badge, and no boundaries,” one Facebook user wrote in response to the viral post. “In a moment that could have simply been about a traffic stop, Deputy Byers chose compassion — turning frustration into dignity and stress into support.

“It’s the small gestures that leave the biggest impact. Thank you, Deputy Byers, for showing that humanity still lives on the roadside, in a helping hand, and in a tied knot,” the woman continued. “May we all strive to lead with empathy, no matter the circumstance.”