By Police1 Staff
We all need someone to look up to. In this week’s ‘Trending Topics,’ we highlight instances where police officers connected with kids — through rescues, a pick-up game of basketball and a heartwarming moment after a frightening event. All five stories have one thing in common — police officers leaving a positive influence on the next generation. Check them out and add your thoughts below.
 | Texas cop rescues autistic child from busy road A North Texas mother is calling a police officer a hero after he saved her son from a dangerous situation. |
 | NY cop attends wedding of girl he saved 2 decades ago In December 1993, Sergeant Barca responded to a house call that came in for a child not breathing. |
 | Ind. SWAT cop connects with kids after nearby standoff After what children saw as a very scary situation, an IMPD SWAT officer took the time to make sure they knew the police were there to protect them. |
 | Bystander catches Va. cop’s good deed at daycare The officer scooped up children getting off a school bus, two at a time, and carried them through deep water to their day care. |
 | Pickup game between Mo. cops, kids goes viral The officers said taking 30 minutes to play isn’t that rare; it just happened to be captured on camera. |