7-year-old presents masks to McKeesport police

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

A 7-year-old McKeesport resident who dreams of being a police officer spent time with some of the men and women who keep his city safe on Saturday.

To show he cares about the safety and well-being of McKeesport’s police force, Devin Brown, a Propel McKeesport student, gave each officer a face mask to help protect them from the coronavirus while on duty.

Devin’s mother, Heather Nelson, a 10th Ward resident, said his mission to buy masks for the entire department started after she bought him a children’s face mask with dinosaurs on it.

“One of the officers one day, they were in the park, I guess they were taking a break, and (Devin) went over to the park and they let him turn the lights on and siren,” Heather said. “We got back to the house he said ‘Mom, I want them to have a dinosaur mask.’ I said I don’t think a dinosaur mask is gonna work, but I’ll see what we can do.”

She said Devin took it upon himself to do chores and small favors for relatives to earn money to purchase masks for the officers. 

“He did little things. He helped my grandmother carry her bags in the house. When we went to the self-checkouts he would pack all the bags,” Heather said. “He still didn’t have enough money from earning so, mom and dad helped him because we appreciate his cause.

“He wants to be a police officer when he grows up. Like, that’s all he talks about. 

“He has handcuffs and a little gun and a little plastic radio. He just thinks he’s the SWAT team.” 

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