"She's my everything:" Woman thanks MPD officer who went above and beyond in caring for her dog

MILWAUKEE -- Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest impact -- and that is the case with this story.

Milwaukee Police Officer James Hernandez

Milwaukee Police Officer James Hernandez has been a cop for 24 years. July 5th started like most days. He was  on patrol -- when he got the call.

"Got sent here to board up a door because the fire department had to force entry for somebody who had a medical issue," Hernandez said.

What Hernandez did not know was earlier, Jan Schwartz was getting out of bed.

"I had an appointment with the pain doctor, which is pretty ironic," Schwartz said.

Ironic, because she slipped, fell and broke her hip. She was in excruciating pain.

"I just went down and couldn't move," Schwartz said.

First responders had to bust in her door to get to her and take her to the hospital.

"I realized 'oh my God.' I just didn't know what to do. I was just in a state of panic," Schwartz said.

Schwartz's beloved dog Dory was left alone -- or so she thought.

Then, Officer Hernandez arrived.

Officer Hernandez and Jan Schwartz

"It was just her and I here -- so we played for awhile...sort of bonded I guess," Hernandez said. "I took her outside. She had some needs and we needed to address 'em."

Hernandez also waited for maintenance to arrive to repair the broken door -- and found a neighbor to take care of Schwartz's dog.

Officer Hernandez and Jan Schwartz

"Thank you so much. Can I have a hug? I can't thank...it might not seem like much but it was the world to me," Schwartz told Officer Hernandez.

Home from rehab, Schwartz wanted to personally thank Officer Hernandez for his actions.

"It might be silly, you know, taking a dog out. But, she's more than a dog. She's my everything, you know? And I knew she would be upset because I'm her mama, you know?" Schwartz said.

Dory

Hernandez says what he did is not unusual, but Schwartz's response is.

"To have it come directly from somebody who it meant so much to -- it's pretty moving," Hernandez said.

Officer Hernandez and Jan Schwartz