Everyone loves a ray of sunshine in their life, and the men and women of police and sheriff’s departments around the country are no exception.
When you spend most of your time filing paperwork and answering emergency calls, we imagine that it can become harder for the uplifting things in life to shine through, especially in big cities.
Fortunately, many major metropolitan departments are implementing programs that involve meeting the ultimate rays of sunshine: the kids in their communities!
There’s nothing more charming than a kiddo full of optimism and humor, as we saw with this sweet little boy who approached a police officer for some help with his untied shoelace.
The South Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station, or SLASS, got a similar boost this past weekend, when a local little one showed up with a very special gift to the department.
Check out the gallery below to learn what this little angel brought for the officers — and for other local kids!
This little guy is named Maddox, who lives in the greater Los Angeles area, and knows how to rock an awesome haircut.
The deputies of the local sheriff’s station agree, but they’re even more impressed with Maddox’s generous spirit.
According to a post on the South Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station (SLASS) Facebook page, Maddox recently stopped by the station with his grandmother, where he dropped off “a care package that the deputies can keep in the trunk of their police car in case a child needs comforting."
The post also notes that the little boy saved up his birthday money for the gifts.
The SLASS spends lots of their time tracking down bad guys and following up on crime, but they also encounter kids every day in the pursuit of justice.
Kids, unfortunately, are often caught up in trouble that adults cause, in cases like custodial kidnapping and neglect.
The SLASS is often first on the scene to offer support, as they were when this little one (pictured above) wandered away from home and needed help getting back.
The Sheriff's Station spends a lot of time giving back to kids in the local community.
Deputies often put their spare time into volunteering at local schools and youth programs.
Their presence has helped to forge a strong relationship between the department and kids in the community.
Deputies are on hand for all sorts of activities, from dedicated volunteering to traffic patrol at school or local events, like this cop posing for a photo op with a dressed-up little girl at the Lawndale Youth Parade.
They even run their own Youth Activities League, which is not surprising in a station that takes its responsibility to the community so seriously.
Their creed, as listed on Facebook, is: "My goals are simple, I will always be painfully honest, work as hard as I can, learn as much as I can and hopefully make a difference in people’s lives."
So far, it looks like the SLASS is already very successful at upholding that creed when it comes to the kids in their jurisdiction.
We have no doubt that, with the help of kids like Maddox and others like him, the station will be able to connect with even more of the youth in the community, promising to "make sure the items go to the right child."
They may even have more help down the road — little Maddox is shaping up to a be a great addition to the force one day!
If you loved hearing this story about a wonderful kid giving back to his community, so that they can give back to other kids, make sure to SHARE this uplifting moment on Facebook!
