CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Louisiana girl is marking West Virginia off her list.
On Thursday, Rosalyn Baldwin, age 8, walked into the lobby of Kanawha County’s W. Kent Carper Justice and Safety Complex to hug every member of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, including K9s, that she could.
It was the next stop on Baldwin’s trips across the U.S. that started after the July 2016 ambush on police officers in Dallas, Tx. that left five dead followed by police shootings in Baton Rouge, La.
“They (police officers) risk their lives every day and I want to do something about it by hugging them,” Baldwin said. “I love giving them love because I feel a bunch of love coming out (of me).”
Thus far, she has visited 31 states to offer hugs to police officers and plans to eventually make it to every state.
The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department is the #WV stop for Rosalyn Baldwin, age 8, a Louisiana girl who is traveling across the U.S. to give hugs to police officers. More on #rosalynloves later @WVMetroNews & @580WCHS. pic.twitter.com/wXodPPtXqP
— Shauna Johnson (@ShaunaJWV) July 12, 2018
In West Virginia, Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford and Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango were among the county officials on hand to greet Rosalyn and her family.
“There are lots of them,” she said of the deputies.
Her trip to West Virginia included a tour of the West Virginia State Capitol.
Wherever she meets officers, “They thank me for hugging them and appreciating them and giving them love,” Baldwin said.