Behind the Badge
Declan Kester, 7, of Idaho only met his older second cousin, Orange Police Officer David Hernandez, once when he visited California with his family.
Hernandez made such an impression on Declan that the boy decided his cousin, and all police officers, are everyday heroes.
For a school project, Declan drew a photo of his cousin wearing his police uniform and then added an audio message:
“In my opinion, police officers around the world all care about others. First of all, my second cousin is an everyday hero because he is a police officer. Secondly, he keeps people safe. Finally, he puts bad people in jail. Without a doubt, my second cousin is an everyday hero.”
In this file photo, Orange PD officer David Hernandez is seen in front row far left kneeling. File photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
When Hernandez found out that his younger cousin singled him out as a hero, he felt honored, Hernandez’s mother, Stephanie Hernandez, said.
“It brought tears to my eyes,” Stephanie Hernandez said. “It wasn’t just for my son. He was talking about all police officers.”
David Hernandez started as an explorer at the Orange Police Department and then worked as a cadet for Anaheim PD while in college.
He then returned to Orange PD and attended the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Academy.
Hernandez has been on the job in Orange for about three years
