NYPD Honors Texas Girl Who Sent Cards Of Support After Deaths Of 2 Brooklyn Officers
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Texas girl who made hundreds of handmade thank-you cards for law enforcers after two officers were slain in Brooklyn got the chance to meet some of her New York heroes in person.
Savannah Solis, 10, of Tyler, Texas, made about 200 cards for New York officers and hundreds of others for police throughout Texas following the deaths of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.
As CBS2's Emily Smith reported, that prompted Solis' parents Scott and Debbie to launch a collaborative effort to get their daughter to the city.
Solis visited the late officers' precinct in Brooklyn on Tuesday, as well as the 41st Precinct in the Bronx. She received an award and special gift from the department.
"It's truly amazing how something that we desperately needed in that time -- to have a little girl, as far as she was (away), to just thank us," Officer Victor Cabral, who arranged the meeting, told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.
"My goal is to tell as many police officers as I can that I love them and that I am thankful for all that they do," Savannah said, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.
In the Bronx, Savannah read from one of the thank-you notes she penned.
NYPD Honors Texas Girl Who Sent Cards Of Support After Deaths Of 2 Brooklyn Officers
"To my heroes, I want to say don't stop. Please don't give up," she said. "Many do not care or appreciate the sacrifices you make every day, but I do."
It was Savannah's first trip to the Big Apple, but she said she doesn't want to sightsee. She only wants to meet more officers.
NYPD Honors Texas Girl Who Sent Cards Of Support After Deaths Of 2 Brooklyn Officers
"Savannah, you will always be a member of our family, the NYPD family," Assistant Chief Larry Nikunen said. "Thank you."
PBA President Pat Lynch said it's people like Savannah who inspire New York City cops to keep going.
"I'm here on behalf of every New York City police officer to say 'thank you.' Thank you for reminding us that across this country people like you appreciate folks like us," Lynch said.
Liu and Ramos were posthumously promoted to the rank of detective after they were gunned down in their patrol car in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, on Dec. 20. The gunman, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, took his own life shortly after the shooting.
Organizers were also trying to arrange a meeting with the widows of the two slain detectives, the Daily News reported.
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