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An NYPD officer is being praised for doing the right thing after helping a 3-year-old girl recover from a random attack.
According to the NYPD, earlier this year, 3-year-old Sophia was being pushed in a stroller by her grandma when a random attacker threw her stroller to the ground.
Police say that Sophia was left with multiple bruises and a large cut on her forehead that required stitches.
The attacker was arrested after the incident, but Sophia and her family were “understandably traumatized,” according to police.
That’s when Officer Cristopher Vera, who at the time worked as a neighborhood coordination officer with the 109th Precinct, stepped up to create a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Sophia’s medical care. The community was able to raise over $2,500 for Sophia, who later visited 109th Precinct to meet her hero.
Video and photos released by the department show Vera escorting Sophia around the station and presenting her with gifts. The child then gives Vera a big hug and smiles.
“When she stopped by the 109th Precinct to visit and thank the officers, the NYPD had more surprises for her — toys, clothes, school supplies, gift cards, and more.
Officer Vera is no stranger to giving back to the community. Over the last few holidays, he began collecting money from friends and family to purchase gifts to hand out to the kids he came across while working Christmas evenings,” the department wrote in a Facebook post.
Although he has since moved on to a new assignment, Vera stayed in contact with Sophia and her family.
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