Photo of cop comforting distressed toddler goes viral

A PHOTO of a cop in the United States comforting a distraught toddler has touched many hearts around the world.

Officer James Hurst comforting the child. Photo: Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department

GET your tissues ready. A photo of a cop comforting a distraught child is going viral for all the right reasons.

A 16-month-old boy was found wandering the streets with no adult supervision and was later taken to a medical centre, where he became very distressed during the medical examinations.

In order to make the little boy feel safe, officer James Hurst from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department in Georgia, asked the hospital staff if he could hold and comfort the little boy.

“I asked the hospital staff if I can hold him to comfort him and soothe him a little bit to try to calm him down, to continue getting medical care and they said that was fine,” he told WSAV.

Shortly after this, the boy fell asleep in the officer’s arms.

“I just knew this child needed somebody to be there for him,”

Mr Hurst stayed with the toddler for around two hours and since this photo was posted online, his compassionate act of kindness has been commended from all over the world.

“This job is so much more than catching bad guys,” he stated. “We do what we need to do for the citizens. All the officers I work with … would do the exact same thing.”

The press release states that the little boy is safe and in good condition, and the Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services will be handling the case.