Local organization holds event with police, children who lost parents to violence

PITTSBURGH — The Tree of Hope organized an event for children who lost parents to violence to help the children grow up with a positive relationship with the police.

"What we're doing is we're building relationships. We think it’s very important to build relationships between these children and the police," Tree of Hope executive director Adrienne Young said.

The organization brought more than 100 children and 20 police officers across the Pittsburgh area to Kennywood for the event.

"We asked one of our 7-year-olds what he wanted to be when he grew up, and he said, 'I just want to grow up and kill the man that killed my father.'

And that broke my heart, and it broke everybody's heart. And we began to see how we can intervene with these children who are so shattered," Young said.

Zone police Cmdr. Jason Lando said it is important for the children to get to know officers as people.

"A lot of times these kids only get to see the police when we're coming to their house because someone called 911 (and) unfortunately, we have to arrest a family member. So, today we get to spend some time with the kids where no one's going to jail, nothing bad is happening and they can get to know the officers as people," Lando said.

The children, who went on rides - with the officers, said it meant a lot to them to spend time with the police.

"It's just nice to know that everyone cares," said Cameron Boddy, whose father was murdered.

"It's very important that children learn at a young age that they can trust them and that they can love them, and that they are here to protect and serve them," Young said.

Cox Media Group