Rialto police bring smiles to youngsters at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital

With sirens roaring, Rialto police headed to Loma Linda Children’s Hospital Tuesday, but it wasn’t on a call to combat crime.

Instead, it was a rush to bring smiles to the faces of the dozens of children that are patients at the hospital.

For the first time, more than a dozen members of the Rialto Police Department joined several Southern California law enforcement agencies to participate in the annual Cops for Kids Fly-In.

Marking its 17th year, the event brings law enforcement and military members to deliver toys to patients at the children’s hospital in a very big way.

The delivery starts with a grand entrance of four law enforcement helicopters hovering over the hospital and landing on the lawn, followed by a parade of sirens from police motorcycles, squad cars and SWAT vehicles — all while young patients and their families stand in awe and excitement.

“It’s the greatest feeling seeing happiness come from the kids,” said Rialto police Ofc. Dwuan Rice. “The kids were all stoked seeing us.”

After the grand arrival, patients were able to interact with officers, step into helicopter cockpits and jump into law enforcement vehicles. Each child received a sticker and a gift from an officer. For those patients too sick to leave their rooms, officers made a special delivery and handed toys personally to children.

Rice said the feeling of gratitude was overwhelming.

“I had two kids say, you guys made our day,” he said. “Just hearing that brings a smile to my face and is a reminder that no matter what our public perception is, we do good in the community, not because we have to, but because it’s the right thing to do. That’s the side of policing we need to see.”

Rice said the department plans to participate in next year’s event, with hopefully a larger turnout and more volunteers.

This year’s participating agencies included: Riverside Police Air Support, Riverside Police Traffic Division, Riverside Police K-9, Riverside Police EOD, Corona Police, Riverside Sheriff Air Support, Riverside Sheriff SWAT, San Bernardino Sheriff Air Support, San Bernardino Sheriff SWAT, San Bernardino Sheriff – West Valley and Glen Helen Detention Facilities; San Bernardino Sheriff – Central Station; San Bernardino Police – Traffic Division; CHP Air Support – Apple Valley; CHP – San Bernardino, Rancho and Riverside; Rialto Police Department; Redlands Police Department; Los Angeles Police Department; Fontana Police Department; Ontario Police Air support; Burbank Police Air Support; Patton State Hospital Police and Hemet Police Department – K9.