Police officers never quite know what they’ll encounter during a shift. One moment, they may be responding to a motor vehicle crash, and the next, they could find themselves chasing down a runaway family pet or helping a stranded driver change a flat tire.
That’s exactly what happened recently in Allegany County, Maryland. Two sheriff’s deputies turned an otherwise routine day into an opportunity to help members of their community in multiple ways.
According to the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies Tanner Clites and Shaun Vanmeter demonstrated their commitment to public service on June 24, 2026, while assisting residents throughout the county.
The day initially began with the deputies responding to a motor vehicle collision near Barton, Maryland. After clearing the scene and returning to patrol duties, the pair soon found themselves dealing with an entirely different type of emergency.
Deputies Stop To Help Couple Chase Down Runaway Dog
While traveling along Route 36, Deputies Clites and Vanmeter noticed a local couple frantically attempting to capture their family dog. The dog had apparently escaped and was running near the busy roadway, creating a potentially dangerous situation for both the animal and its owners.
Anyone who has ever tried to catch a frightened or excited dog knows that the task is often much easier said than done. Add moving traffic into the equation, and the situation can quickly become hazardous.
Recognizing the danger, the deputies immediately stopped to assist. According to the sheriff’s office, Deputies Clites and Vanmeter joined the pursuit and worked alongside the couple to safely capture the wandering canine.
Fortunately, the chase was short-lived. Following a brief pursuit, the dog was successfully secured and safely returned to its relieved owners without injury.
The sheriff’s office later shared a photo showing Deputy Clites with the rescued pup, highlighting one of the many unexpected calls deputies encounter while serving their communities.
Deputies Then Stop To Help Stranded Motorist
Following a brief pursuit, the dog was successfully secured and safely returned to its relieved owners without injury. The sheriff’s office later shared a photo showing Deputy Clites with the rescued pup, highlighting one of the many unexpected calls deputies encounter while serving their communities.
This time, it was a motorist experiencing vehicle trouble. Rather than simply continuing on their patrol, the deputies again stopped to help.
The sheriff’s office said the pair remained at the scene and assisted the stranded driver until the issue had been completely resolved. Photos shared by the department show Deputy Vanmeter helping with a spare tire while Deputy Clites stands nearby assisting with the roadside situation.
Community Members Thank Deputies for Going Above and Beyond
Many commenters went straight to the replies of the Facebook post to share their opinions, with many thanking police officers for their service. A lot of the comments read something like, “Clites is a cool guy man, genuinely heartfelt and doesn’t take all things to his heart.”
Another comment reads, “Thank you law enforcement!.” Similarly, another reads, “God bless and be safe guys !!”
In a statement, the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office said, “The deputies of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office remain committed to serving our community in every capacity.” For Deputies Clites and Vanmeter, June 24 proved that a single shift can involve everything from traffic crashes and runaway pets to roadside assistance.
And for one grateful family and one stranded driver, their willingness to stop and help undoubtedly made the day a little less stressful.
This story, & countless others I have read about confirm it needs to be a law to also have your dog seatbelted in the car, just as humans are supposed to do. It’s law in many European countries, why not the United States?! It’s extremely unsafe to have any dog loose inside a car, for a variety of reasons. Had this dog been properly seatbelted in the car with their harness on, none of this trauma would have occurred. Many times, the outcomes are horrific with the dog fleeing the accident, & then getting hit by oncoming traffic, or the owners get hit & killed trying to rescue them. PLEASE spread the word about this important safety feature far too few people do to properly protect their beloved pets, as well as themselves, inside the car.