Heartwarming moment Florida deputy responds to 911 call from boy who just wants to give cop a HUG
A Florida deputy responding to a disconnected 911 call recently found himself in an unexpectedly heartwarming situation.
When Hillsborough County Deputy Scott Pracht arrived at a Riverview-area home Wednesday afternoon, he encountered a young boy who had called 911 with the simple intention: to give the police officer a hug.
The touching moment was captured on Deputy Pracht’s bodycam and the home’s Ring doorbell camera.
The video later went viral on social media after it was shared by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
When Hillsborough County Deputy Scott Pracht arrived at a home in the Riverview area on Wednesday afternoon, he encountered a young boy who had called 911 with the simple intention: to offer a hug.
The endearing moment was captured on Deputy Pracht’s bodycam and the home’s Ring doorbell camera
The boy’s mother, Dayana Del Valle, explained that the boy doesn’t really know what 911 is.
After the officer arrived, the young boy’s mother, Dayana Del Valle, said, “To be honest, he doesn’t even know what 911 is.”
‘Yes, I’ll explain. It’s not a problem,” Deputy Pracht responded.
‘Did you call this gentleman? Did you call the police?’ the mother then asked her son.
The boy replied innocently, “Well, I wanted to give him a hug.”
“I know what your phone number is – it’s 9-1-1,” he added to the officer, before rushing through the door to hug him.
The officer graciously accepted the boy’s hug and took a moment to gently explain that 911 is reserved for emergencies only.
‘Yes, but do you know what that is for? It’s when you’re in trouble, you need help, or there’s someone you know around who’s in trouble and needs help,” Pracht said.
‘It’s very important. You have to be careful when you call that number, okay?’ he added.
As the deputy ended his visit, he shared the moving incident with his fellow deputies, saying, “The child was playing. I just wanted a hug.”
The young boy rushed through the door to hug the deputy
The officer graciously accepted the boy’s hug and took a moment to explain that 911 is reserved for emergencies
As the deputy ended his visit, he shared the moving incident with his fellow deputies, saying, “There was a child playing. I just wanted a hug
In a news release, the county sheriff’s office characterized the event as a “heartwarming incident.”
It “exemplifies the strong bond between Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the community they serve,” the statement read.
The community was captivated by the moment the young boy rushed through the door to hug the deputy.
One wrote under the police social media post: ‘Thank you sir for being patient with this child and explaining things. Very nice thing to do.
“Mom, take him to the police station for a visit, or to the fire station. It would mean so much to him.”
‘Very cute and real moment! Kindness and compassion from HCSO deputies and staff does not go unnoticed in our community! I love HCSO! Thank you for your service!’ said another.
Officers also emphasized the importance of using 911, with the goal of ensuring the community understands its role as an emergency hotline.
“We deeply appreciate the genuine kindness of this young child. Our deputies are more than willing to share a hug and spread love to the children in our community,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister.
“However, it is essential that everyone remembers that 911 is a lifeline for emergencies.
“We are here to help, and we encourage parents and educators to teach children about the proper use of emergency services.”