Zachary Phelps, 36
Sheriff’s deputy, Santa Clara County
For Phelps, patrolling the West Valley in Santa Clara has changed in some small but significant ways. The deputy, who lives in Morgan Hill with his wife of 17 years and their 4-year-old son, has seen a shift toward kindness.
“I definitely see people waving more than they would normally,” Phelps says. “A lot of people are saying ‘thank you,’ and even a tiny little thank you is appreciated. I don’t forget them.”
He’s also seen the opposite side, however, with people seeming more on edge than ever before.
Phelps says police officers always put their lives on the line when they put on their uniforms and hit the streets, but in his 11 years with the department, he has become attuned to the unseen dangers that might await him. In some ways, the COVID-19 crisis represents the same sort of danger, but this one lurks, sometimes hidden in plain sight, a known but unknown threat.
“When I come to work, I have an idea of what I might face,” Phelps says, “but with COVID-19, you’re caught off guard.”
Knowing how much even small gestures of thanks buoy his spirits, Phelps said he researched ways that he might do that for others. He saw video of police officers in Italy turning their lights on to acknowledge the medical workers, to let them know how much they are appreciated in this war against the virus.
He organized a similar showing of love and support, inviting his fellow deputies, the fire department and other agencies to surround an area hospital and light up the night with their emergency lights. His goal, he says, was to let them know “we see you, we recognize you, we appreciate what you’re doing.”
“Anytime you have a life problem,” Phelps says, “if you can help someone else, it helps you get out of your funk. It goes a long way. If everyone would do a little bit to help — help their neighbors from a safe distance, help others — then the world would be a better place.”