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 home in the Riverview area on Wednesday afternoon, he encountered a young boy who had dialed 911 with a simple intention – to give the police officer a hug.
This endearing moment was captured on Deputy Pracht’s bodycam and the home’s Ring doorbell camera.
The video later went viral on social media after being shared by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
When Hillsborough County Deputy Scott Pracht arrived at a home in the Riverview area on a Wednesday afternoon, he encountered a young boy who had dialed 911 with a simple intention – to offer a hug
The endearing moment was captured on Deputy Pracht’s bodycam and the home’s Ring doorbell camera
The young boy’s mother, Dayana Del Valle, explained that the young boy doesn’t really know what 911 is
After the officer’s arrival, the young boy’s mother, Dayana Del Valle, said: ‘To be honest, he doesn’t even know what 911 is’.
‘Yeah, I’ll explain it. 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 innocently replied: ‘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 give him a cuddle.
The officer graciously accepted the young boy’s hug and took a moment to gently explain that 911 is reserved for emergencies only.
‘Yeah, but do you know what that’s for? It’s if you’re in trouble, if you need help, or if somebody you know is around you and that’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 finished his visit, he shared the touching incident with his fellow deputies, saying: ‘Kid got on the phone playing. Just wanted a hug.’
The young boy rushed through the door to hug the deputy
The officer graciously accepted the young boy’s hug and took a moment to explain that 911 is reserved for emergencies
As the deputy finished his visit, he shared the touching incident with his fellow deputies, saying: ‘kid got on the phone playing. Just wanted a hug’
In a press 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 reads.
The community has been captivated by the moment when the young boy rushed through the door to hug the deputy.
One wrote under the social media post by police: ‘Thank you sir for being patient with this child and explaining things. A very kind thing to do.
‘Mom, take him by the police station for a visit, or by the fire station. It would mean so much to him.’
‘Very cute and real moment! Kindness and compassion of HCSO deputies and staff doesn’t go unnoticed in our community! Love HCSO! Thank you for your service!’ another said.
The officers also stressed the importance of using 911, aiming to ensure that the community understands its role as the emergency hotline.
‘We deeply appreciate the genuine kindness shown by this young child. Our deputies are more than willing to share a hug and spread love to children in our community,’ said Sheriff Chad Chronister.
‘However, it’s essential for everyone to remember that 911 is a lifeline for emergencies.
‘We are here to help, and we encourage parents and educators to teach children about the appropriate use of emergency services.’
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