On a call this morning down at Courthouse Pier and this little girl walks up to me. She was about 3/4 holding a teddy... Posted by Josh McConnell on Tuesday, December 1, 2015

'Tis the season for giving!Gulfport, Mississippi officer Josh McConnell police officer said he had to fight back tears as a young girl presented him with a new deputy to help keep him safe.McConnell recounted the touching moment in a Facebook post on Tuesday. Since making the post, McConnell's story has garnered dozens of likes, shares, and encouraging comments. According to the post, McConnell was on patrol when a little girl who appeared to be about 3 or 4 years old came up to him holding a teddy bear. McConnell said after asking what he could do for her, the little girl handed him the bear, with a little encouragement from her mother.

McConnell then placed the bear in his passenger seat for the little girl to see, and uploaded a second post to Facebook of his partner riding shotgun.

My new buddy has my six. Posted by Josh McConnell on Tuesday, December 1, 2015

"Just wish I could have spent a little more time to talk with the family and get a picture. When the call was over, they had already left the area," McConnell told ABC on Wednesday morning McConnell said the girl's mother told him they have a law enforcement officer in the family, and she always hears friends and family members telling him to be safe. Now, McConnell has a guardian bear to protect him, and the memory of the little girl's kindness to treasure forever.