MURFREESBORO, TN - Sheriff’s sergeant’s interactions develop trust with two brothers.  Brothers Ewan and Abram experienced the worst day of their life when a police officer delivered the life-changing message their father died in a car crash three years ago. Ewan was 6 years old and Abram was 2 years old when their father died. Because a police officer called about their father’s death, the young brothers associated bad news with police officers and became afraid of police officers, said mother Robin White. They didn’t share their fear with her.

 

She only learned of their fear last week when they asked if they could give a box of cookies at Christmas to Sheriff’s Sgt. James Elliott, a law enforcement officer they met when Abram played soccer with Elliott’s son, Eli, at Smyrna Soccer Club. White and her sons give boxes of cookies to teachers, bus drivers and people who interact with the family. 

               

The mother asked why they chose Elliott.

 

“My boys said something that really floored me,” White said, explaining they believed it was not good news if the police talked to them. “They were afraid of police until they had normal day-to-day interactions with Officer Elliott,” White said.

 

Elliott said he originally met White and her sons at his son’s soccer practice when he was off duty and didn’t wear his uniform. The boys played together and Elliott became familiar to them. During one game, Elliott dropped by on his work lunch break wearing his uniform. That’s when the boys learned he was a law enforcement officer.

 

“I was just being a dad and a cop at the same time,” Elliott said.

 

White later remembered now 9-year-old Ewan asked her if everything was Ok when Elliott showed up in uniform but she didn’t think about his reason for asking. She wanted to thank Elliott in person for the positive impact he had on her sons who are now 9 and 6 years old.

 

"When someone makes an impact, you should let them know about it,” White said. “He just helped my kids and I didn’t even know until now they needed help. I am really grateful for he is who he is.”

 

Elliott said he was glad Ewan and Abram are not terrified of police officers anymore because he talked to them.

 

“I got into law enforcement to change somebody’s future,” Elliott said. “Two little boys now look differently at the world.”