We’d expect that every call the police station gets is an emergency.

After all, that’s what their line is for. It is common knowledge, especially among police officers, that when that phone rings, it’s usually a call for help.

However, one police sergeant from Glendale, Arizona, received a different call for help.

The dispatch received a call they did not expect to hear from the other line.

Glendale Police Sergeant Jeff Turney found himself in an unlikely emergency when a concerned son called the station about his father.

He said:

“I have a 94-year-old father. He’s loaded up a trailer and thinks he could drive his vehicle and trailer to Florida. I’d like to have somebody talk to him if they could.”

That call led Sergeant Turney to Howard Benson’s home.

He went to the address that Howard’s son gave during the dispatch call, and there he saw the elderly beaming with pride in his World War II hat.

Sgt. Turney was entertained by the man’s enthusiastic storytelling of his pride in being a veteran.

The kind officer felt like if he told him why he was there, he already knew the outcome.

And he was right. Howard was determined to push through with his plan.

Howard moved around with his power chair, making it impossible to travel 2,200 miles to Fort Myers, Florida, to an assisted living facility.

He had his mind made up that he was going to do it.

Howard’s children, who all lived out of state, suggested traveling via air to Florida and just having his stuff shipped to the facility.

But he didn’t want to listen to any of them because, as he said, he was stubborn.

Sergeant Turney knew it would be dangerous for Howard to drive that trailer alone.

The police officer continued to visit his new friend after his shift. He helped him disassemble some things Howard planned to bring and loaded them in the trailer.

When all was packed and ready, there was one thing left to do – set off for the long trip to Florida.

“I thought about it for a second and knew he was going to go anyway. I had the next three days off, and I just asked him, ‘how about I take you?'” Sergeant Turney told ABC15 Arizona.

Howard couldn’t believe what he heard and had the biggest smile.

Both men were on the road for the next few days and enjoying the ride. The pair talked a lot on their more than 2,000-mile journey.

Sergeant Turney listened to Howard narrate his history and learned one heartwarming truth about why he insisted on driving to Florida.

“He had told me that was his last trip that he’d be able to make, and he had just wanted to see America one last time, and he didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he was going to do it,” he said.

Sadly, Howard passed away a few months after. But we’re glad he got to see the country he served one last time – thanks to this kind-hearted officer who took that ride with him.

Watch the video below to see more on this heartwarming story!

Source: CBS Evening News YouTube Channel, ABC15 Arizona, Glendale Police Twitter