LEE COUNTY, Fla. – A Southwest Florida teen has started a non-profit that uses fallen officer's uniforms to make bears for their loved ones, and is now tasked with making one for a fallen Fort Myers Police officer.
Her own dad is a police officer for the Cape Coral Police Department. She's made more than 340 bears honoring officers so far. But officer Adam Jobbers-Miller’ will be her first bear honoring a local law enforcement officer.
"The thin blue line is stronger than any other force there is, and all of us are here in this together." 16-year-old Megan O'Grady uses fallen officer's uniforms to create teddy bears for their families.
After hearing of 29-year-old Adam Jobbers-Miller's line of duty death, she plans to make a bear just like the others in his honor.
"Everything is made out of his uniform shirt."
The officer's name and number on the front are original patches from his or her uniform.
"The eyes and nose are buttons, then it has blue line bears and his end of watch date on its feet."
She started Blue Line Bears after five officers were ambushed in 2016. "I started to realize my dad isn't safe anymore," says Megan.
Up until now, the officers she was making bears for were out of state, or hours away. "It always seems like these officers were never going to be in this area right here in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, because it seems so safe here."
So when she heard about officer Jobbers-Miller's death, "I can't help but think like ‘what if it was him in this situation?’ And it's ridiculously hard to think about because it could've been him."
So that's why now, more than ever, she feels it's her duty to step up.
She has this message for the family of officer Adam Jobbers-Miller. "We're here for them. We will always be here for them. Literally the entire police community. We will always be there for them. He won't be forgotten. And they won't be forgotten."
Megan also got a letter from President Trump recently, thanking her for making and donating these bears to families. He says it shows their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.
