Girls Go From Squad Car to Spa

A day at the day spa is just what they needed

This story starts on the street with two runaway girls and ends at a day spa.

"They've made the changesm and they deserved this little treat," said Escondido Police Officer Jeff Udvarhelyi.

Earlier this year, Udvarhelyi found two girls who had run away from an Oceanside group home for girls.  After bringing them back to the home, he started talking to the kids.

"A lot of them expressed that they were depressed," Udvarhelyi said.

Udvarhelyi decided to do something.  He told the girls that if they behaved and did not run away, he would reward them.  When Udvarhelyi called back a few weeks later, he got great reports.

As a reward, the girls spent Tuesday at Escondido's Bellisima Day Spa, which donated manicures for all the girls. 

"It just feels really good to know that people -- who don't even know us -- care," said one of the girls.

After the spa, the girls were treated to lunch by Cocina Del Charro and met with Esconidido's city attorney, who spoke with them about the importance of staying in school. One of the girls said she was just accepted to Brigham Young University and would attend th school in the fall. 

"I think whenever there's an opportunity to invest in someone's life, we gotta take it," Udvarhelyi said.

Udvarhelyi said he did not do what he did to get media attention.  In fact, he said, other Escondido police officers regularly go above and beyond their duties to serve the community and are never recognized for it.

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