LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Police Department is working to raise money to help a 9-year-old boy with cerebral palsy receive new orthopedic leg braces after his old pair was stolen on June 9.
Geovanni Ramirez needs a wheelchair to get around, and his legs are in casts as he waits for his new braces to be made. His original braces were stolen when a suspect broke into his family's SUV.
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He cannot walk without the braces. LAPD officers, cadets and the Eagle and Badge Foundation are collection money to help out his family. So far $3,000 has been collected.
"Newton Division is an incredibly tough place to be a cop, but it's an even a tougher place to be a kid, especially a kid born with a disability," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said.
Beck said the theft of the leg braces is a financial hardship for the Ramirez family. Geovanni will also need to be fitted for his new braces.
He added that he believes the community will come through for Geovanni. A GoFundMe page has been set up called Leg Braces for Geovanni.