The Tiny Hands Foundation of Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto Counties donated more than 300 new teddy bears to the Sarasota Police Department, suited in T-shirts with the new SPD logo. 

These teddy bear "officers" will ride with ‪Sarasota Police officers and will be given out to help comfort children they encounter who may be in distress. Our Community Relations Unit (CRU) will also have the bears on hand to distribute at community events with children. 

"This is just another way our officers are committed to being someone the children of our community can trust," said Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche. "These bears will help the younger generation associate our officers with something positive.”

"If one of these teddy bears comforts, consoles, or eases the pain of a single child experiencing trauma, then our goal has been met," said Rod Khleif, Founder and President of the Tiny Hands Foundation.