Police officer sends flowers to woman pulled over for speeding

SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- A Massachusetts woman is thanking a Somerville police officer after an act of kindness, CBS Boston reports.

Earlier this week, Robin Sutherland learned that her 90-year-old mother was going into hospice care. Later that same day, Sutherland was pulled over for speeding in Somerville. She was travelling at 40 mph in a 30 mph zone.

While the female officer went back to her car to give Sutherland a warning, Sutherland says she started crying.

"I just realized when we lose my mother I'm the older generation now and it just hit me," she said.

The officer asked her to take it easy and sent her on her way. Later that evening, Sutherland received a heartwarming surprise.

Somerville Officer Ashley Catatao sent Sutherland a bouquet of flowers and a note which said, "I'm very sorry about your mother. I hope you find comfort in knowing she lived a long life and will continue to live on in your heart and in your memories."

The note was signed, "Officer who pulled you over this morning."

On Thursday, Catatao was celebrated by Somerville's Mayor and the Deputy Chief of Police. Catatao said her actions were just a simple gesture.

"We do things like this all the time. It just doesn't get much notice in the press. I was just doing what I know most people would have done anyways. It just seemed so natural to me," she said.

For Sutherland, the gesture was very meaningful.

"For her to go out of her way for someone who was having kind of a tough day, it was just amazing," she said.