West Concord officer’s heartfelt video comforts student

In a time of heightened concern over school safety, a West Concord police officer’s simple act of compassion has brought comfort to a young student and pride to an entire community.
Officer David Myrom recently responded to a call from a local grandmother, whose grandson was afraid to attend school following recent threats. To ease the child’s fears, Myrom recorded a personalized video message, assuring him that he was safe and that officers were there to protect him.
“I thought, if I can help this child feel more confident about going to school, I wanted to do it,” Myrom said. “It was intended for one student, and I didn’t think it was going to go viral.”
The video, shared with permission from Mayor Jeffrey McCool, quickly gained attention for its sincerity and warmth. In it, Myrom speaks directly to the child, calmly explaining that officers are allies and protectors.
“Our police department is amazing,” the grandmother wrote in a message to the mayor. “My grandson doesn’t care where someone is from. He just needs to know what every child in our community needs — to run to our officers, not from them.”
Myrom said his approach was shaped by both professional training and personal experience.
“In law enforcement, we respond to frightening calls all the time. We can’t show fear,” he said. “I spoke to the child as if they were my own, drawing on how my parents used to explain things to me.”
He emphasized the importance of children seeing officers as more than authority figures. “We can either be the officer who only shows up when something bad happens or the one who gets to know the community,” he said. “That’s why school resource officers are so important. Building trust helps us support children more effectively.”
McCool praised Myrom’s actions as a beacon of hope.
“This is not about politics or blame,” the mayor said. “This is the basic human need to feel safe and comforted. They haven’t asked for this recognition, but are very deserving of it.”
Myrom acknowledged that working in a small town can blur professional boundaries, especially when residents know officers personally.
“Letting families see the person behind the badge fosters trust and understanding,” he said. “It allows us to aim for meaningful change.”
The West Concord Police Department receives training through the Minnesota POST Board, which includes guidance on communicating with children and addressing mental health concerns. Myrom said many of the department’s staff are parents, and they often share personal experiences to better prepare for situations involving children.
Though modest about his role, Myrom’s message has become a powerful example of how small gestures can make a big impact.
“Creating that video took about two minutes,” he said. “But it made a much larger impact than I ever anticipated.”