Virginia Beach, Va. – Recently, the mother of a 4-year-old child had what police are calling “a very unfortunate situation” which she shared with the Virginia Beach Police Department.
The mother and her 4-year-old daughter were shopping in a local retail store at Lynnhaven Mall. A Virginia Beach Police Officer who was working part-time walked into the store. At some point the officer came in close proximity to the mother and child. At the sight of the officer the child became very emotional and the mother had to take the child out of the store to comfort her. According to police, when asked why she was so scared, the mother was shocked when the child told her, “The police will shoot us.” The mother says she had never given her child any reason to fear the police, and believes this comes from “current media coverage over recent police shootings that have made national news.” The mother tried to tell her daughter that the police were not to be feared, “but to no avail”, police say. The mother agreed to bring her child to the Fourth Precinct as a means of “getting to know” a police officer to try to see that the men and women who wear the uniform are people she can trust.
Sergeant Scott Merce thought of the idea of getting a stuffed “Police Bear” to give to the child. This bear was born at “Build a Bear” in the same mall where the child was scared by the officer. A red heart was placed inside the bear that symbolized the heart that is in each police officer and where the love to protect children comes from, police tell NewsChannel 3. Sergeant Merce placed that heart inside the Police Bear before it was stitched in place. The bear was given a birth certificate bearing the name of the 4-year-old child and the name “Officer Paddington.”
On Friday, December 5, 2014, the 4-year-old arrived with her mother, grandmother and brother. MPO Shelly Bryant greeted the child and took everyone for a tour of the precinct to include a look inside one of the police cars. The child was presented with Officer Paddington, “which brought a huge smile to her face.”
MPO Bryant was able to convert the fears of a 4-year-old child into something positive, according to those who witnessed the event.
Message from Virginia Beach Police:
“A big thank you MPO Bryant and Sergeant Merce for your efforts in bringing a smile to a little girl’s face and showing her that the police are here to help her.
All too often adults can be overheard in saying to children “See that police officer over there? He’ll arrest you if you’re not good,” in an effort to correct a behavioral issue. This incident serves as a positive example of how to introduce children to a law enforcement officer.”
