Travis Goodson’s ‘Hugacop’ movement gains national attention

ALBANY — A young Albany Police Department officer has gained national attention by using his badge — and his guitar — to make a difference in a unique way.

Travis Goodson, 25, is two weeks into his #hugacopchangetheworld campaign. He has become known across the nation for his outreach to the community around him — specifically in the downtown Albany area he patrols — for offering a hug and musical tune to anyone willing to receive them.

In that short time, a 20-second video of Goodson in action has gone viral. He has since been the subject of considerable media attention, including an appearance on the “Fox and Friends” TV show early Friday morning in Atlanta.

The “Fox and Friends” interview took place, officials with APD said, after he got a call from a producer in New York the day before.

“I thought it was a great opportunity,” Goodson said Friday afternoon in an interview with The Albany Herald. “I think (those involved with the show) really are on board with the message.”

Being on the national stage gave him an idea of just how widespread his effort had become in such a fast timeframe. He said those greeting him at the show in Atlanta walked him through the interview process and appeared excited about how it was changing the image of law enforcement.

That appearance could go a long way in boosting the movement nationwide.

“Maintaining that momentum is going to be great (in the attempt) to change the world,” Goodson said.

As far as the experience itself, despite the stage being so prominent, Goodson said it felt natural to him — while he also felt a strong sense of urgency.

“They (the personalities at ‘Fox and Friends’) are real, just like us,” he said. “It didn’t feel forced whatsoever.”

He came back to Albany later Friday, going back on duty and further promoting his efforts in the community.

Goodson, who started his law enforcement career in 2014, first got the motivation for change a little more than a year ago while he was a resource officer in the McIntosh Homes area. He was in the military, so he came back to the same problem of law enforcement having a negative reputation in the community.

When he returned from Vermont two weeks ago, inspiration struck.

“I thought about the difference that needed to be made,” Goodson said Thursday prior to his trip to Atlanta.

The APD officer said he grew up in a family that was big on hugging. That level of contact taught him much about the meaning it can have for someone compared to a wave or nod, so he now explains to those he encounters on the street what he is doing, and asks if he can give them a hug.

“A hug can change one person’s day completely,” the police officer, husband and father said.

Usually Goodson has a guitar with him. On Easter Sunday, while he was patrolling, he found someone with a guitar and asked if he could join in. They played “Amazing Grace,” and the man handed Goodson the guitar to play.

The moment was caught on camera. Goodson asked to be tagged in the video, it was uploaded and it received 100,000 views in 24 hours.

Apart from proving that police officers can do more than arrest people, the movement has been at least partly successful in accomplishing a shift in the public opinion of police officers.

“The media is not good at covering the positivity,” Goodson said.

The officer said he has no political agenda. He just wants people to love others, and to give power back to individuals — especially those who have little to no self-worth.

“I think we live in a time that we can love people for who they are,” he said.

Texas, Wyoming and Washington, D.C., are among the parts of the country to see the results of Goodson’s efforts from the video.

“I had hoped it would be seen by a large number (of people) or platforms,” the officer said. “I did not expect it to go viral.

“I think my special calling is to love other people and show they can be loved.”

Goodson said he plans to include short clips with positive messages into his campaign. Since it first began, he has been active in his efforts every day he has put his APD uniform on.

“My hope is that other police officers will get on board,” he said.

Indeed, multiple officers have expressed interest in the idea, and one in particular is helping boost the movement with the production of T-shirts, hats and bracelets. Goodson said he intends to take it further outside the downtown area to bring about a collective power of change.

“We will set up detail to places people might feel unloved,” Goodson said. “We want to take this love and spread it evenly.

“The (APD) staff has been very supportive. It is an opportunity to engage the community in (a different way). It would be hard (without the APD’s support), but I would still do it.”

Goodson said he loves God, loves others and wants to do the right thing, adding his mother told him while he was growing up that he could be as smart as he wanted to be and be anything he wanted to be.

“You are an individual, but you have the power,” Goodson said. “It just takes work.”

Jennifer Parks