When James arrived on the scene, he was immediately moved and felt terrible for the small boy. He promised to stay at the boy’s side until everything was ok.
He accompanied the boy to the hospital so that he could be checked by a doctor. But the boy was clearly frightened.
James, a father of two, held the boy in his arms and let him lay on his chest throughout the examination. There, the boy clearly felt safe. Within minutes he was fast asleep.
Someone snapped a photo of the tender moment, which was later posted on the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Facebook page. The picture spread quickly online and thousands began to praise James for his tremendous effort.
Although hospital staff would have been perfectly able to take care of the boy, James insisted to remain and stay close to the boy.
James says he is stunned with the attention his photo received.
“I just knew this child needed somebody to be there for him,” he told KTLA 5. “It was just human instinct; humanity. The hospital staff was taking great care of him [but] he was sobbing and crying. I picked him up and within minutes he was asleep on my chest.”
James remained in hospital with the boy for several hours, there for him without fail. Learn more about this moving story in the report below.
What a great police officer – let’s help share his amazing story to honor his heroic deed!