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10-Year-Old Boy Pledges To Run A Mile For Every Fallen Police Officer

Updated September 8, 2021

Nowadays, it's fair to say that the American public has a complicated relationship with its various police forces. On one hand, we're often reminded of the ultimate sacrifices that officers make in the line of a dangerous and sometimes thankless job.

On the other hand, it's also difficult to ignore the striking scenes we can see when police power goes unchecked, as well as the virulent issues that can take root in police organizational cultures.

However, if there's one thing that police officers working today can depend on, it's the undying respect of one dedicated young boy in Florida.

Since at least last year, 10-year-old Zechariah Cartledge has undertaken a special mission.

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As NBC 4 reported, every time he learns about a police officer dying in the line of duty, he runs a mile to honor them.

He has done eight of these runs this year so far, and unfortunately, his runs can sometimes stack up quicker than expected.

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According to NBC 4, an incident like this occurred on January 20, when he learned of the shooting death of Officer Sean Tuder from Mobile, Alabama right after finishing his run for Birmingham Sergeant Wyntasha Carter, who was also shot in the line of duty.

In that case, he did not hesitate before running yet another mile that day.

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Before embarking on that second mile, he said, "The reason why I wanted to do it tonight is because I am furious about this...the war against police somehow is not going to peace like it just keeps going on. This needs to stop. Why can't they just go to peace 'cause this violence needs to stop because they go home to husbands, wives, children every day and if they can't see them anymore then that's just going to break their hearts."

However, this is not to say that Zechariah only runs when he identifies an example of a "war against police."

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According to the Facebook page broadcasting his runs, he is also planning one in honor of NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen, who succumbed to accidental gunfire.

NBC 4 reported that he also ran for Deputy Sheriff Ray Horn in Comal County, Texas, who died of a heart attack.

According to his father, Chad, Zechariah is planning to run a mile for every officer who passed in both 2018 and 2019.

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As CBS News figured out, this will amount to almost 150 miles for the 2018 cases alone.

As you might have noticed, Zechariah undertakes these runs while holding a particular flag.

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The whole flag has a blue tint, but it also features a solid blue stripe that stands out from the rest of it.

This is meant to represent the popular concept of the police as a "thin blue line" between order and lawlessness, or between criminals and their victims.

According to the Running For Heroes Facebook page, Zechariah's goal of 148 miles run this year isn't his only one.

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He also intends to raise $15,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which began after 9/11 as a means to support first responders and service members.

Zechariah has earned glowing responses from his page's 6,000+ Facebook followers, but some also expressed concern about how hearing only about the tragic results of police incidents will shape his worldview.

Reddit | gentthaci, Facebook

After all, regardless of how somebody feels about the police, it is important to remember that both sides of a police protest have their reasons for being there.

h/t: NBC 4

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