CINCINNATI, OH — When police officers Michael Donald and Charles Utley looked to start a side business as a hedge against possible layoffs, they decided to focus on helping former criminals who had been jailed, Cincinnati.com reported.
The Nov. 5 story stated that the pair noticed Howdy Car Wash had been closed and was for sale. They bought the wash in July 2011, made $22,000 in renovations and re-opened it a month later.
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Donald’s wife, Marchelle, runs the wash, and the business is a means of providing jobs to people with felony records. Though the owners have not made any money from the wash, they have helped former felons get jobs and become more productive citizens.
The wash has 12 employees making $8 an hour and is about to hire another employee. The owners take pride in the successes of their employees, especially of a man convicted of rape 13 years ago who has proven to be one of Howdy’s longest-running and most productive employees.
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Even Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig appreciates what the officers/carwash owners are doing. “It’s noble on their part,” he said in the story. “They see a need and are addressing it. It’s really what community policing is all about. They’re giving people a second chance who need a second chance.”
Read the entire article here.
