(KAIR)--A small, black kitten was rescued Thursday evening on Atchison's 6th Street Viaduct, safely making its way onto the structure, but finding itself trapped against the west wall as traffic made an escape route difficult.

Two passersby took notice, as did an Atchison Police Officer, who was the one to physically remove the kitten. “His name is David Stochlin,” Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson told MSC News. “He came to us in July 2016. He's a great guy and an excellent officer. He actually grew up in the Miami, Florida area, came to Benedictine [College], where he graduated with a degree, played football at B.C.”

Wilson commended Stochlin's commitment to seeing the kitten reach safety. “[The kitten] was helpless up there, traffic was heavy, and the kitten didn't know what to do. The officer was able to maneuver the kitten out of the traffic way, and got him to the ground below. [Stochlin is an] excellent officer who I've watched chase some bad guys since he's been here, but he's also capable of rescuing kittens.”

The short, but successful rescue effort, took place shortly after 7:00 Thursday evening.

The names of the two passersby who assisted aren't known.

Saving animals wasn't just the job of Atchison Police this week, as the Atchison County Sheriff's Department also engaged in an animal rescue.

Sheriff Jack Laurie says his office was called to Cummings Friday following a report of an endangered goat. “The call came out as a goat with its head stuck in the fence at the Cummings Cemetery,” Sheriff Jack Laurie told MSC News. “Apparently when [the Deputy] arrived, not only was there a goat with its head stuck in the fence, there was another goat that a headstone had fallen on it.”

The Deputy, who freed the stuck animal, and brought the other to safety, was able to return the animals to their owner.

Photo credit: Dori Smith