“The media has been full of negativity toward law enforcement and you’re not always sure what the children have seen or heard at home, but we’re so thankful that our kids had the chance to see that an officer who swore to protect us as his job, really meant it,” she said.

“He showed the kids that he was there to insure their safety until someone else arrived. He blocked off a part of the highway for us to get from one bus to another. He made sure the kids had something to drink and didn’t dehydrate. We’re very thankful to him.”

Desmond Parker, 8, said Hicks added excitement to a day the kids already enjoyed during their field trip earlier that day.

Brodie Green, 9, said he knew officers protected people from robberies, but he wasn’t sure that it was an officer’s duty to help kids on a broken bus to safety.

“At first it was very scary but when he brought someone to help us with our bus I knew we were safe,” he said.

Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walker thanked the kids for their appreciation of law enforcement by deputizing each of them with a badge.

Many of the students knew Walker and smiled as he walked through the room.