Raleigh police officer's kindness reawakens sense of purpose in former WRAL employee

For many officers, to serve their communities means to "to befriend and to encourage."

Tommie Bland, a former WRAL-TV employee who landed on hard times, has experienced the compassion of a Raleigh police officer firsthand.

Bland still sees the magic of broadcast radio – sending songs and stories, sweet memories, through the airwaves.

He retired as a master control operator a few years ago after four decades at WRAL News.

"The first time I saw master control at WRAL, I said, 'That's where I want to be,'" he recalls. "It's a passion to be able to transmit something through the air."

But without that daily joy, the music within him died. He sank into sadness and loneliness. He wandered the streets of downtown Raleigh, longing for company.

That's when Raleigh police officer Tim Howard befriended him.

He met him at the bus station around three years ago.

"I think at the time, he just kind of needed someone to talk to, so I decided I'd talk to him for a little while, and I ended up giving him a ride home," said Howard.

Howard would check in on him most days, and they got to know each other. He came to really care about Bland.

The more time the two spent together, the more officer Howard heard that music come back to life. He even bought Bland a microphone, a CD player and a radio – and managed to get Bland a broadcasting job.

He asked someone at Little Raleigh Radio, a non-profit online station, if Bland could do his own show.

"He's a big guy, but he's a gentle giant and a teddy bear," said Howard. "I see people, literally of all walks of life, sit down and talk to him."

Now, every Wednesday night from 5 to 7 p.m., Tommie Bland is on the air.

"It's a lot of fun, and it means a lot to me," said Bland, who says if he hadn't met Howard, he's sure he would never have been back on the airwaves.

The kindness of a Raleigh police officer brought his passion back to life – playing music on Little Raleigh Radio.

Howard believes walking the beat often means walking alongside people.

"I want to show them that police just aren't out looking for people doing something wrong," he said. "We truly have a desire to help people when we can."

"He's given me something," said Bland. "A goal to reach."

So play us a song, Tommie Bland. The magic is still there.