A young police officer new to his role in Savannah is being widely praised after stepping in to comfort a 16-month-old boy found alone in the gang-plagued neighborhood of Cuyler-Brownsville.
A photo showing Officer James Hurst cradling the toddler has gone viral on Facebook, gaining thousands of likes and shares.
On May 9, Hurst — who joined the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department in January — responded to a call for backup after reports of a small child wandering alone near busy streets. While his law enforcement training shaped his initial actions, Hurst, a father of two — one with Down syndrome — said it was his parenting experience that guided his heart.
“This job isn’t just about catching criminals,” Hurst shared. “It’s about supporting the people in our community and being there when they need you.”
The child was brought to Memorial University Medical Center for evaluation.
In the emergency room, the toddler became distressed and started to cry during the exam. That’s when Hurst gently asked the staff if he could comfort him.
“The little guy was really upset — crying, sobbing,” Hurst recalled. “I asked if I could hold him to help calm him so they could finish his checkup, and they said yes. I picked him up, and within minutes, he was asleep on my chest. With all my gear on, it got heavy, so I sat on the bed to make it easier on both of us.”