Oxford, AL – As orgianlly shared by the City of Oxford, the mission of the Oxford Police Department, “To protect and to serve,” is displayed on every patrol vehicle. But for Chief Bill Partridge, the mission extends further—to “help somebody every day.” That philosophy was demonstrated recently when officers and community members came together to assist Ruby Lewis and her family of 10 after a fire destroyed their Hobson City home.
In search of guidance, Lewis reached out to Officer Miranda Schoening, a former schoolmate. Schoening, with the support of Deputy Chief Daniel Phipps, quickly turned to social media to rally assistance. “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.”
Before the formal donation handoff, Schoening and her K9 partner, Havoc, visited the family with toys. On Wednesday, September 25, 2025, the Lewis family was invited to police headquarters for a tour and to receive the collected donations. The children were welcomed into the conference room, where they were met with a large collection of supplies and gifts. Their tour also included a visit to the Aviation Unit and a meeting with K9 officer Havoc.
Oxford Police pledged to transport the donations to the family’s temporary housing, removing one more burden from their recovery. Adding to the outpouring of support, local entrepreneur Haitham Saeed and his family presented Lewis with a cash donation and pledged continued assistance.
Mayor Alton Craft praised the collective effort, noting that Oxford’s culture of generosity shines brightest in difficult times. “Oxford is a blessed city that always freely shares those blessings when acts of tragedy strike,” Craft said. He added that the police department’s leadership and Saeed’s community involvement reflect the city’s spirit of compassion. “I can assure the Lewis family they remain in Oxford’s prayers for God’s continuing support through this challenging journey they now face.”
