Good NewsPhoto of police officer comforting toddler goes viral
[From Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department / Facebook]
A sweet moment caught between a young child and a Georgia police officer is capturing hearts across the Internet and gathering thousands of likes on Facebook.
The 16-month-old boy was found wandering alone last week and was taken to the hospital by Officer James Hurst of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police after residents alerted the authorities, according to a statement released by the police department.
“I just knew this child needed somebody to be there for him,” Hurst said, in the statement. “It was just human instinct; humanity.”
The young boy started crying during a medical exam and Hurst, a father of two, told WSAV he wanted to help out.
“I asked the hospital staff if I can hold him to comfort him and soothe him a little bit to try to calm him down, to continue getting medical care and they said that was fine,” he said.
Despite all the media attention and public outpouring of support, Hurst told WSAV he is not unique in his compassionate actions.
“All the officers I work with … would do the exact same thing,” he said. “It’s what we do, every single day, not just me, but the 600 officers that are on this department.”
According to the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police, the child is safe and healthy.
