Law enforcement can be a thankless job, but many people truly appreciate their bravery, skills, and service in the line of duty.
Hunter Long may only be 5 years old, but he already has a healthy respect for his local police department. When he was two, Hunter drowned in the family’s swimming pool in Cherokee County, Georgia. Thankfully, then-patrolman Duncan responded to the scene, pulled the toddler out of the pool, and resuscitated him.
Hunter made a full recovery from the scary near-death experience, and his family has kept in touch with their hero ever since. A year after the accident, Hunter and his mother, Jessica Long, paid now-Detective Duncan a visit at work. They played catch outside of the station, and Hunter got to thank his hero in person.
When the 5-year-old graduated kindergarten from Little River Elementary this spring, one of the first people he wanted to show his diploma to was Detective Duncan!
“Special moment this afternoon,” the Cherokee Sheriff’s Department wrote on Facebook. “In 2017, Detective Duncan (who was a deputy in Uniform Patrol at the time ) was dispatched to a drowning child. When he arrived on the scene he pulled 2-year-old Hunter Long from the pool. Hunter was not breathing but after CPR by Detective Duncan he began to breathe and made a full recovery. Hunter graduated Kindergarten today from Little River Elementary and his family brought him by the South Annex to celebrate with Det. Duncan. These are the type of events that remind us why we do what we do.”
Hunter says he wants to become a police officer when he grows up so that he can save lives, too! We’d say Detective Duncan made the sort of impression that will last a lifetime for this little boy. Hunter would never be able to celebrate this milestone if it weren’t for this cop’s heroism that day.
Share this story to thank Det. Duncan for his service.
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