Officer Jonathan Jursich may not be eligible for the homecoming king title, but he's being crowned for his efforts after he helped a suburban high school freshman when her dress was stolen just hours before her first high school dance.
Tammy Rollins dropped off her daughter, Anaiah Rollins, and a friend at a nail salon Saturday afternoon in DeKalb to get their nails done before their first homecoming dance. Later, while she was out of town at work, Tammy Rollins received a call from her daughter.
“She was in hysterics saying somebody had stolen her dress,” she said. “There’s no way I would have been back in time to get her a new dress so I told her the only thing you can really do is make a police report.”
That's when Jursich met Anaiah Rollins at the Ellwood House Museum, where several other students were taking photos.
“A lot of kids were there taking pictures for homecoming and she was standing on the outskirts and I met with her there,” Jursich said. “Her face was just heartbroken. It crushed me.”
So Jursich did the only thing he could think to do.
“I said, ‘We need to get you a dress and get you to homecoming,’” he said.
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So, with two hours before the dance started, he took her shopping.
The pair first went to Kohl’s, but couldn’t find a dress. So Jursich called his female police sergeant for advice and she recommended Maurices.
Jurisch said the employees at the store took Rollins in and got her ready to go for the big day. The store gave her a discount on the dress, another shopper gave her a $10 coupon and Jursich paid for the rest.
After that, he took her to Wendy’s because she had missed a homecoming meal with friends.
“I said, ‘Well you can’t go to a dance on an empty stomach, that I know,’” he said.
Then Jursich transported the teen to the school in his squad car and dropped her off just in time for the event.
Tammy Rollins said her daughter never would have made it to the dance in time if it wasn't for Jursich.
“She was so upset when she didn’t have anyone else to depend on and never did we think that it would come from our local police department,” said Tammy Rollins. “She had a really great night, she had so much fun and it was all thanks to him. He was truly our hero that night.”
The DeKalb Police Department later posted a photo of Jursich, Anaiah Rollins and two employees at Maurices and the story has received more than 14,500 likes on Facebook and more than 2,800 shares.
“We’re not exactly a crime-free community, but to have these kind of stories emerge from that is really kind of heartwarming and truly it’s a testament to the men and women who work here,” said DeKalb Police Chief Gene Lowery. “Their hearts are just in the right place. Just goes to show a little love in any community goes a long way.”
Lowery said he's "very proud" of Jursich, adding that "he represents himself and this department in an exemplary manner."
Jursich said he didn’t expect to get recognition for what he did, but he’s glad the story has touched so many people.
“The reason I like it so much is it’s just showing that there are good cops out there,” he said. “I know in the last year or so we’ve come under a lot of heat nationally, I’m glad this can portray a good image for us.”
