Phoenix cop leads makeover of woman’s ruined home

PHOENIX — Two weeks ago, Linda Tims’ home near 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road was ransacked. All the copper pipe and wire had been stripped, that was why she called police.

What Officer Glenn Branham found was much worse than what she’d described on the phone and now her home is shaping up to be a better place than it has been in years.

Branham, a former construction worker, has been spending much of his free time since taking that call from Tims essentially rebuilding the house, along with other volunteers. Walls, floors, electrical, doors and plumbing are all being replaced. And the crew is even throwing in a new air conditioner.

“Forget cloud nine. I’m on cloud 11. I don’t know how to repay him. Thanks is not enough,” Tims, 65, said.

Branham works four 10-hour shifts each week as a policeman. On his three days off, he’s at the house where Tims’ son and friends lived.

When Branham first went to the house, the interior was wrecked, filled with garbage, infested with bugs and parts of the ceiling were hanging down.

“I appreciate my job as an officer. I don’t want to go back to construction,” he said. “My tools have been in storage for 15 years collecting dust and this was a great reason to put them back to work.”

He’s even helping foot part of the bill. City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services is picking up the lion’s share of cost.

Branham estimated the redo will cost around $75,000 and credited Able Architectural Woodworks, which donated cabinets, Lloyd’s Interior Finishes, which is doing all of drywall and texture at no cost. Rock Wise donated all drywall material.

Police have set up an account to help fund the makeover at Chase Bank. Any branch will take donations for the Linda Tims Renovation account.