ASHLAND, KY (WOWK) – The Ashland Police Department is helping kids reach their goals bucket by bucket.
By now, you might have seen a Facebook post by the Ashland Police Department go absolutely viral on social media.
As of the writing of this story, the post has over 4.7 thousand likes and over 1,800 shares.
The post shows three officers, Kevin Williams, Richard Bohannon, and Demarius Gulley, who were able to get TiShawn Parsely, the boy in the picture, a brand new basketball rim.
Thanks to the Ashland Police Department, 13 News was able to catch up with the officers, and with TiShawn.
TiShawn Parsley is not like many kids his age.
His inventiveness, along with some help from grandpa, led him to build a make-shift basketball hoop about two weeks ago.
“I made it out of a crate and old pieces of wood that we don’t use,” TiShawn said proudly.
That basketball hoop, TiShawn says, is very special to him.
Let’s flash back to Monday, though.
A sunny and otherwise normal day for Officer Kevin Williams who was making his rounds through the neighborhood.
“I took a photo of [the make-shift basketball hoop] and shared it to our team group text,” said Williams, a 7-year officer with the Ashland Police Department.
“We admired the ingenuity and drive, but he needed an upgrade,” said Officer Gulley, who has been with the Ashland Police Department for 4.5 years.
So, the officers got to work.
You probably know where this story is going.
“You try to do nice stuff for the children so they can see you in a positive note,” said Officer Bohannon, a 13 year veteran of the Ashland Police Department.
Fast forward to Monday afternoon. The school bus is pulling up to TiShawn’s house.
“He got off the bus with a basketball in his hand dribbling, and he saw the goal, and [had a] bright smile in his face,” said Officer Bohannon.
The officers got a brand new basketball rim just for TiShawn.
“He didn’t know what to think at first, you know, there’s four cops standing, police officers standing outside of his house so he didn’t know what to think,” said Officer Gulley.
TiShawn also recalled the experience.
“When I first got home on the bus, I was wondering how that got there,” said TiShawn. “I was really excited [when I got off the bus, and my mom] told me that [the officers] gave it to me.”
TiShawn was so excited, he even invited 13 News Reporter Shannon Litton to play a game of one-on-one.
“He’s a talented athlete,” said Officer Williams, who looks forward to playing some ball with TiShawn “as soon as possible.”
Then again, Officer Williams says he’d “hate to get shown up by an 11-year-old.”
As for TiShawn, well… he’s already training, spending 5 hours outside shooting ball Monday afternoon.
“I challenge you to come to my court,” TiShawn said as he swooshed a three-point shot.
The Ashland Police Department wants to thank the Ashland Walmart for their efforts in making all of this possible.
TiShawn says he’s really looking forward to playing a pickup game with the officers.