Watch: Good Samaritan Jim Harbaugh helps Ann Arbor police clear road during ice storm
Jim Harbaugh has put down roots in Ann Arbor, Michigan. On Wednesday, the 59-year-old Michigan Wolverines football coach helped police remove an actual uprooted tree in the road.
The Ann Arbor Police Department released body camera footage of Harbaugh volunteering to help officer Howard Cooper clear the roadway during an ice storm on Wednesday night. According to the department, Cooper was attempting to carry out the task by himself when a good Samaritan pulled over in a van to assist.
"To the surprise of Ofc Cooper, the good Samaritan was @CoachJim4UM who wanted to help clear the road. Ofc Cooper then gave Coach a pair of work gloves and the two of them went to work," the police department tweeted. "After about ten minutes they were able to, inch by inch, get the entire tree moved to clear a lane for traffic to pass through."
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After picking up some additional debris in the roadway, Cooper and Harbaugh, who wore a brown beanie, plaid sweater and jeans, introduced themselves and shook hands.
"I appreciate you. You're a good man," Cooper said to Harbaugh, who replied with a laugh: "Feel free to spread the word on that…Thanks for what you do, man."
Watch the full exchange below:
On 2/22/23 at approximately 8pm in the middle of the ice storm Ofc Howard Cooper was at Devonshire and Londonderry to remove a large tree that was blocking the road when a van pulled up. The driver then parked and got out of the vehicle. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/FxG3s9t0P7
— Ann Arbor Police (@A2Police) February 23, 2023
On Thursday, the Ann Arbor Police Department expressed their gratitude to Harbaugh: "We thank Coach Harbaugh for being a valued member of the Ann Arbor community and helping out Ofc Cooper."
Harbaugh announced in January that he was returning to coach the Wolverines: "I love the relationships that I have at Michigan — coaches, staff, families, administration, President Santo Ono and especially the players and their families. My heart is at the University of Michigan. I once heard a wise man say, 'Don't try to out-happy, happy.' Go Blue!"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Harbaugh helps police remove tree blocking road during storm
