Tampa Police Cars Get Stuffed With Teddy Bears From Saint Leo U

TAMPA, FL — Everyone needs a little comfort — especially a child in a time of crisis. In keeping with its core value of “community,” Saint Leo University again collected Teddy Bears for TPD for the second year to create a type of “comfort squad” in the Tampa Police Department's behavioral health unit.

On Thursday, members of the Tampa Police Department, including Interim Chief Lee Bercaw, Deputy Chief Calvin Johnson and members of the behavioral health unit, received donations of nearly 300 stuffed animals in the Teddy Bears for TPD collection drive.

Spearheaded by the university’s Tampa Education Center, the items were loaded into TPD vehicles at the center at 1403 N. Howard Ave. in West Tampa. Students, faculty, staff and the public donated the stuffed animals at the education center and at Saint Leo’s main campus.

Officers from the behavioral health unit and patrol will give them to children at crime scenes and during other times of crisis. This “comfort squad” hopes to ease the stress of kids experiencing traumatic events.

Bercaw said the bears can help start a conversation in a difficult situation. “They can get a child smiling,” he said.

The stuffed animals mainly will be used by TPD’s Behavioral Health Unit officers, but also will be available in TPD offices. Officers help the vulnerable population and those in crisis, and help keep situations from escalating.

“Community support — such as that provided by Saint Leo University — is what we really need,” Bercaw said. “Saint Leo is a great partner for us and we appreciate the support.”

The idea of donating teddy bears was sparked by one of the Tampa center’s social work instructors, who discussed how children experience traumatic events.

“We really wanted to support our local community and give back,” said Rod Kirkwood, area director of Saint Leo’s Tampa Education Center in Tampa. “Being able to partner with and support the Tampa Police Department is important, and we want interactions with the police to be positive for children, even if it’s a scary situation.”

Many of the university’s degree programs align with this project, including criminal justice and social work. Saint Leo boasts Bercaw as one of its most recent graduates. He earned his doctorate in criminal justice degree earlier this year.