A Minnesota state trooper is being praised for his unbelievable kindness after he pulled over a speeding doctor and ended up giving her something much more meaningful than a ticket.
As CNN reported, Dr. Sarosh Ashraf Janjua was stunned when the trooper decided to simply let her off with just a warning — and five N95 face masks he was supposed to use himself.
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On March 21, Janjua was driving to a hospital in Duluth when she was pulled over for going over the speed limit.
In a Facebook post detailing the incident, the 37-year-old doctor wrote,
“When [the trooper] saw my Massachusetts driver’s license, he asked me what I was doing all the way out in Minnesota, so I told him I travel here every month for my work as a locums cardiologist.”
The trooper lectured Janjua on the dangers of speeding, particularly given her profession.
“He quite firmly told me it was very irresponsible of me to be speeding, especially since I would not only take up resources if I got into an accident, but would also not be in a position to help patients,” she recalled. “I waited for him to write me a ticket. Instead, he told me he was going to let me off with a warning.”
Although it seemed that was going to be the end of their interaction, what the trooper did next surprised Janjua and touched her deeply.
The man reached through the window and handed her five of his own N95 face masks.
“I burst into tears,” Janjua wrote of the moving gesture. “And though it may just have been the cold wind, I think he teared up a little as well, before wishing me well and walking away.”
“This complete stranger, who owed me nothing and is more on the front lines than I am, shared his precious masks with me, without my even asking.”
Just like millions of other healthcare workers throughout the country, Janjua has been worrying about the lack of protective equipment.
“I have felt afraid of not having adequate protective equipment, and in my darkest moments, have worried about what would happen if I fell sick far from home,” she explained online.
Clearly, the trooper’s act of kindness meant more to her than he could possibly know.
“The veil of civilization may be thin, but not all that lies behind it is savage,” Janjua wrote . “We are going to be O.K.”
Since sharing her story on Facebook, Janjua’s post has gone viral, touching thousands of people with its heartwarming message of kindness.
As of writing, the post has received over 30,000 likes and been shared more than 23,000 times. And the comment section is understandably filled with praise for the state trooper, as well as for Janjua herself.
“Thank you both for your service,” one person wrote. “Stay safe and stay healthy!”
Another added, “This gives me hope. When our heroes work together… there is nothing we can’t achieve.”
It has since been revealed that the Minnesota state trooper’s name is Brian J. Schwartz.
A spokesperson from the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) told PEOPLE Schwartz was compelled to help the doctor when “he noticed what appeared to be two used N95 masks in Janjua’s purse that he assumed she was reusing.”
Although he had been given his own personal stash of masks by the state, the trooper made the incredibly generous and heartwarming decision to share them with Janjua.
Janjua said she will treasure her brief but impactful encounter with Trooper Schwartz for months to come.
“I think we are all just hanging on to something that makes us feel safe,” she told CNN . “Somehow, for Americans, that something has become N95 masks and toilet paper. Trooper Schwartz’ act of kindness became my something.”
