Toms River Police Give Adorable Aspiring Officer A Peek At Future

TOMS RIVER, NJ — It was a chance encounter: Toms River Police Officer Scott Fallano had just ordered his lunch at the Panera in the Crossroads Shopping Center when a young boy approached him.

Scott Kennard Jr. was there with his mother, Brittney, who had stopped to get a bite to eat as well.

"The little boy was so giddy he could hardly contain himself," a Facebook user named Amy Noelle, who witnessed the interaction, wrote in a post on the Toms River Police Department's Facebook page. "His mother went on to explain that the little boy loves policemen, that he pretends to be one, dressed up like one, and watches them on YouTube. The little boy was even more excited when Officer Fallano (Toms River Police Department) leaned over and gave the boy a high five. The little boy left having met a real life hero."

Friends told Brittney Kennard about the post, and she chimed in:

"Omg yes my son!!!" she wrote in a response. "Thank you Officer Fallano !!! He told everyone he met and saw yesterday he met a big 'peace offer.' lol. He was So STAR STRUCK!"

"So grateful how nice he was and took the time out his lunch break to talk to him," Brittney Kennard wrote. "He loves you guys so much. He was so excited he couldn’t finish his lunch!!!!!"

"He just stood there in awe," Fallano said. He tried to prompt the litte boy to speak, commenting that they both were named Scott. But the little boy was so tongue-tied he just nodded. So that's when Fallano suggested the high-five, which got an enthusiastic response.

And Brittney Kennard was so busy taking in the moment that she didn't think to snap a photo of the interaction.

That's when the Toms River Police Department offered to give the youngster — Scott Jr. will be 3 in May — a tour of the police department and a chance to get those memories in photos. On Thursday night, Brittney, Scott, Scott Jr., and Scott Jr.'s grandparents got a personalized tour.

"He wouldn't take his police uniform off all day," Brittney Kennard said. They met Patrolman Rich Buhowski and K-9 Gunnar, who is trained in both human tracking and narcotics scent work. They toured the police department's jail area, where Scott Jr. made it clear he understood they were for "the bad guys," getting upset when his family members stepped inside one. They met the dispatchers, learning about both fire and police dispatch and the important role they play in public safety.

At the end of the tour, Scott Jr. was given a gift bag to go along with his very own Toms River Police Department badge and another high-five from Fallano, who came in on his day off to be part of the tour.

"It was such an amazing experience!" Brittney wrote in a follow-up post on Facebook. "Jr was so happy to see these real life heros!!"

"With all the negative stories out there, it’s great to show the positive ones! We are beyond grateful for Toms River Police Department and Officer Fallano for inviting us! My son and our family will cherish this memory forever!" she wrote.

Class I Officer Todd Garris of the department's community affairs division said the department relishes the opportunity to give tours and have these kinds of interactions because it gives the public an opportunity to see a different side of the police department.

"We have a lot of pride in this department," said Garris, who leads six to eight tours per month when school is in session, many of them Scout groups. The chance for kids to see officers in a setting that isn't an emergency helps to create better connections with the community.

Interactions such as Fallano's high-five moment with Scott Jr. also help to build bonds and trust with the community daily, Garris said. That is a positive for everyone, he said.

"When a child approaches a police officer with that look of amazement on their face, and wants to meet you, it’s a great feeling," Toms River Police Chief Mitchell Little said. "We get to appreciate those little moments in our sometimes chaotic and not so pleasant days. I was so proud when I saw the story online for the first time. I wasn’t surprised though, our officers embrace these moments every day. It’s times like this that give us the opportunity to make a friend for life!"

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Main photo by Jillian Messina, Toms River Police Department. Remaining photos by Jillian Messina and Karen Wall, Patch staff