Heart-Warming Photos: St. Pete SWAT Team Runs Special Mission

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- It was a bit different than their usual missions of subduing barricaded gunmen or raiding drug houses.

But, as far as the members of the St. Petersburg Police SWAT Team were concerned, Friday's mission was just as important.

Armed with teddy bears and junior SWAT team badges, the St. Pete officers swarmed Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, 501 6th Ave. S., to bring encouragement and smiles to the young patients.

Arriving at the hospital in the SWAT Armored Vehicle, fully outfitted SWAT team members came bearing boxes of police bears, badges and wrist bands for the kids.

The team visited patients on two floors. Those patients who were able to walk took a tour of the SWAT vehicle and got a close-up look at the specialized equipment used in a SWAT call-up.

The children were grateful for the attention and gifts. Their parents were grateful for the smiles on the faces of their ill sons and daughters.

"They visited my toddler who has cystic fibrosis," said Meghan Curcio. "While they couldn’t come in the room, they still tried to engage with him and I’m very grateful. Even though he’s very sick, the rest of day he kept asking for the 'good guys' to come back, and fell asleep with his new bear. Thank you."

"Thank you for stopping by," Heather Woulfe posted on the St. Petersburg Police Department's Facebook page following the visit."My 3-month-old Logan was loving the teddy bear you guys gave him. Thanks for taking time out of your day to cheer up these kids."

Images via St. Pete Police

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