Off Central: Two Phoenix-area children showing support for police everywhere

“You are the best. Thank you for risking your lives for us. You are the best people in the world.”

That’s what an 8-year-old Goodyear girl and her 6-year-old brother tell police around the world every day.

Tayler and Caleb Benedetto use their own time and money to make and send cards and letters to police departments here in the Valley and around the globe.

Tayler said she and Caleb got the idea after seeing a police department’s Facebook page.

“The police are risking their lives to go and save OUR lives,” she said.

The pair plan on becoming police officers themselves when they’re old enough. For now, they’re okay with sending their thank yous to police departments as far away as Australia.

And the various departments have been showing their appreciation right back. Leonard, the kids’ dad, said they’ve received patches, pins and other goodies. Most come from police chiefs themselves.

“The kids are up to 800 patches now,” he said. “[The chiefs are] just very thankful that there’s two young children in Arizona that care about them deeply.”

Some of those patches are going to a special local cause. The children are making quilts for the children of the late Phoenix police officer Dave Glasser. He was killed earlier this year when a suspect shot him in the head.

Tayler and Caleb also have another police-related project. They’re raising money to buy police K-9 vests for dogs in various Valley departments. So far they’ve raised enough money for at least three K-9 vests.

You can stay updated on Tayler and Caleb’s project here.

Follow @ClineKathleen