Eddie Flores
Batesville police officer Eddie Flores won the hearts of several children in his community one warm Sunday afternoon. Flores, also a University of Mississippi student, was patrolling a neighborhood when he saw a few children throwing a football around.
He decided to surprise the children with a few frozen treats from a nearby ice cream truck. Greeted by several bright, smiling faces, he was inspired to buy enough treats to share with everyone.
Residents of the community were thrilled by what they witnessed. Flores became an instant celebrity, posing in photos and videos with community members. Later that day, a photo and video of Flores’ deed had received 381 “Likes” and 216 “Shares” on Facebook.
Flores said that he had no intentions of telling the Batesville Police Department about what he had done. The next morning, the chief and deputy chief found out about his random act of kindness through social media and said that it brought a good image to the department.
“I feel like it’s a big thing to be involved with the community and community policing,” Flores said. “It shows them that we’re human, too. … It’s always good to show a positive image. They’re good kids.”
Flores is originally from Houston, Texas. In addition to helping keep the Batesville community safe, he is a part-time student at the University of Mississippi, where he is studying business management. During his time at Ole Miss, he has been involved in the Latin American Student Organization and works full-time so he can support himself while attending school.
Flores said that he had many friends who convinced him to come to Ole Miss. He knew that the university had a good business program and that he also loved the atmosphere on the campus. Being a student at Ole Miss has impacted him in many ways, he said, from meeting great people to experiencing the true Southern hospitality that fills the town with good vibes.
Stefun Gill, an Oxford police officer, met Flores through a mutual friend while he was an Ole Miss student. He describes Flores as “a very caring person who puts other people before himself.” Becoming a police officer while in school is not an easy feat, Gill said.
“He will definitely exceed any goals he has set for himself,” Gill said.
This month marks a full year that Flores has been a Batesville police officer. He said that he loves the department and that everyone is good to him there. Being in law enforcement is something that Flores has always wanted to do. His father is a police officer back in Houston, where he has served the Harris County Police Department for 31 years.
Many years ago, there was a tragic incident that involved his father’s brother. That incident is what led Flores’ father into law enforcement; he wanted to make a difference. Flores expressed that when he was growing up, he not only watched his father make a good career out of being a police officer, but he also raised his family with that job, which is why he looks up to his father.
Flores’ long-term goals include continuing to gain experience in the field of law enforcement and becoming an ideal candidate for a federal agency such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Flores’ generosity is a wonderful reminder that an abundance of good still remains in a seemingly unkind world.
To anyone who is thinking about going into law enforcement, Flores said, “It’s not for everyone. … You can’t halfway do it. Your life becomes a fishbowl and everyone is watching you.
“Go in with an open mind. You’ll be able to figure out if it’s for you or not when you go to the police academy for training. They’ll instill that lifestyle on you. It just changes you to be a better person.”