Hartford police returned to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where they visited young patients as part of what they call “The Toughest Beat.” It’s something they do four times a year.
Hartford officers who patrol some of the city's roughest neighborhoods spent time Tuesday walking "the Toughest Beat," visiting patients on three floors at Connecticut Children's Medical Center.
They joked with the children, answered questions and handed out toy police cars.
Twenty-year-old New Britain resident N’Kaibrya Jennings was among the patients they visited. Jennings she is in the hospital for treatment of sickle cell disease.
"I feel like this is a good way for them to interact with certain kids who have disabilities, diseases, get more involved in the community. I appreciated that," said Jennings.
The visits make a big difference to the children, according to Kelly Foy, a child life specialist at Connecticut Children’s.
"They come to the hospital not feeling great and anything we can do to help bring their spirits back up, like these special visits where they come in and they’re able to bring that community back into the hospital, is really awesome," said Foy.
It's the second visit from Hartford police walking "the Toughest Beat."
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"You take a walk around the floor here and you realize what we’re doing out there is a little easier than some of the things the kids are going through here," said Deputy Chief Brian Foley of the Hartford Police Department.
Police plan to continue their visits at Connecticut Children’s four times a year.
"That shows a lot from officers to take time out of their day to come visit kids in the hospital," said Jennings.
