Lou Ferrigno Makes Special Visit To Allegheny Co. Sheriff's Office

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Despite having roles in more then 40 films, Lou Ferrigno will always be known for his part in the CBS series "The Incredible Hulk."

In town for the Wizard World comic convention, he stopped by the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office to pose for photos and talk with deputies and staff.

He's one of them - a part-time sheriff's deputy in Los Angeles. He's done it for 12 years, 40 hours a month without salary. As the son of a New York City police lieutenant, 9/11 hit him hard.

"It changed my life," he told the deputies. "And especially now, I do a lot of work with Homeland Security. I do a lot of search and rescue. With the SWAT team and helicopters, we save people's lives."

After all those years of playing the Hulk, he now shakes hands with those who really do put their lives on the line.

"There's so much negativity with the public," he said, "like the cops always beating up people. But they have to understand what it's like to be a police officer. The rules they have to follow, and how much courage they have to protect us."

"On behalf of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Department, we have a couple of gifts here," said Cmdr. Kevin Kraus, handing Ferrigno an assortment of hats and tee shirts.

The gratitude is mutual.

"Thank you for coming," Ferrigno said to the assembled deputies and staff. "Thank you for being here. I'm honored for coming."

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