LAPD officers who helped teen with tie hope to strengthen community bond

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two Los Angeles police officers who were captured in a photo helping a teenage boy tie his tie say they appreciate the attention, and hope their efforts to tie the perfect knot helps strengthen the department's bond with the community.

Veteran officers and fathers Jonathan Maldonado and Alberto Ledesma were on patrol in Boyle Heights when 14-year-old Christopher Cazales and his mother flagged them down.

"This vehicle pulled up next to us and this young man is just frantically waving us down, and we look over and lo and behold he has a tie hanging around his neck, and he asks us, 'Sir, do you know how to tie a tie?'" Maldonado said.

Cazales needed to wear a tie for a photograph for his school I.D. card. He and his mother were en route to Bishop Mora Salesian High School for orientation. The nervous freshman was fully dressed in his uniform.

"He seemed really excited to go to school, which is a great thing. The only thing that was left was that tie. We took care of it for him," Ledesma said.

Cazales' mother captured the simple act of kindness on camera and posted it on social media, where the photos quickly went viral. For the officers, it was just another day on the job.

"Hopefully, it's an encouragement for the community to step forward and be more willing to approach officers because that's what we're here for, we're here to serve the community," Maldonado said.