4yo’s 111 toys call goes viral
A viral video of an Invercargill constable going to a 111 call to look at a 4-year-old’s toys, shows the good work officers do every day that goes unnoticed, Southland’s top police officer says.
The story went around the world, including CNN, the New York Post and CTV in Canada, the latter via the Associated Press wire.
Southland area commander, inspector Mike Bowman, said he was amazed at how far the story had gone, and how many people had seen it.
It was heart-warming to read and hear all the positive comments, he said.
NZ Police posted audio of the boy calling 111 on social media, where he invited the operator to come have a look at his toys.
A man at the boy’s house then takes the phone from the boy, and confirms the boy made a mistake calling the emergency number.
The man says he was focusing on another child in the house, while the boy’s mother was sick, and the boy snuck out.
After the call, the operator asks if there is any unit available to visit the boy. Constable Kurt Hodson responded.
One social media commenter says: ‘‘Lived over the world and the NZ Police are definitely a cut above the rest . . . well done team!’’
Bowman said: ‘‘I think we’re pretty privileged in New Zealand to have the police we have.’’
He wondered how many countries would an officer take time out of their busy day to respond to a call like that.
Sometimes police were seen as an enforcement agency, but examples like this showed there were people behind the uniforms, Bowman said.
‘‘It humanises police in the community.’’
It was a good news story in a tough time, he said.
‘‘With Covid in the country, people are going through tough times, and it can bring a smile to people’s faces. It’s a moment they can be distracted.’’
Bowman hoped the positivity would have a ripple effect, show there were real people behind the uniforms, and that they cared.
‘‘... NZ Police are definitely a cut above the rest ...’’