The mission of the Oxford Police Department is clearly emblazoned on each of its vehicles – “To protect and to serve.” However, Police Chief Bill Partridge has said that the mission runs a little deeper to include “helping somebody every day.”

That happened recently when Ruby Lewis found her family of 10 homeless with everything lost when fire destroyed their Hobson City home.

Searching for directions as to what to do next, Lewis reached out to a friend, never imagining what would happen next.

“Ms. Lewis went to school with Officer Miranda Schoening and asked her if she knew of any places that would help,” said Deputy Chief Daniel Phipps. “Miranda then asked me to put something on social media since we have a strong following.” 

“Hobson City is part of our local community, and anyone who is part of our community and is suffering, we want to help,” Phipps said. “We put the information out there about what they needed, and people began bringing it to us.”

Schoening and her K9 partner, Havoc, had already visited the family with gifts of toys, but the family’s visit to the police department and receiving the donations was still to come.

That day came Wednesday, September 25, 2025, when the family, with one child in particular interested in a police career, was invited for a special tour of police headquarters.

First stop was the conference room, where the family gasped with amazement at the pile of donations, and the kids quickly picked out the items that caught their attention.

Phipps and Schoening then led the family to the Aviation Unit, where officers were able to determine just how many excited kids would fit into a helicopter.

On the way back to the conference room, there was a quick stop to have a “paw-and-greet” with K9 officer Havoc.

The Lewis family returned to the conference room to take a seat and was informed that the Oxford Police would help transport all the items to where the family is temporarily housed, saving them from another worry.

Before they left, local entrepreneur Haitham Saeed arrived with his family to express their concern, offer their blessings of support, and give Lewis a cash donation with the promise that if the family found itself needing anything else, they would “let the chief know.”

Lewis’s appreciation was not a vocal one, but one viewed as she dabbed tears away from her eyes.

Mayor Alton Craft said acts of kindness such as this are built into the Oxford community.

“Oxford is a blessed city that always freely shares those blessings when acts of tragedy strike,” said Craft. “We are witnessing that once again, as members of the Oxford Police Department have taken the lead to help the Ruby Lewis family of Hobson City, whose home was destroyed by fire last week. That spirit of helping is also embodied in the family of Haitham Saeed, who has been an extraordinary supporter of the Oxford Police efforts to reach out to the community in situations such as this. I can assure the Lewis family they remain in Oxford’s prayers for God’s continuing support through this challenging journey they now face.”