During a location shoot for Law & Order: SVU in northern Manhattan on April 10, 2024, Mariska Hargitay stopped filming to help a lost child who had approached her. Witness accounts reported that the child mistook Hargitay’s Olivia Benson costume and badge for those of a real police officer. The child was reunited with her mother.
What happened at Fort Tryon Park
The scene was filmed at Anne Loftus Playground in Fort Tryon Park. ABC News and TVLine reported, citing witness accounts relayed to People, that Hargitay paused production for about 20 minutes while the child and her mother were reunited. The duration is an approximate reported figure, not a published production log. ABC News and TVLine attributed the mistaken-identity detail to witness reporting; the accounts reviewed did not include statements from the child’s family or the production.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 19 | $21.56 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 18 | $30.10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 3 [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Tb-Ll0M0L._SL160_.jpg)
|
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 3 [DVD] | $16.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - Season 1 (DVD) | $42.71 | Buy on Amazon |
What Hargitay said afterward
In an interview published May 2, 2024, by Entertainment Tonight, Hargitay said she was unsure whether the costume had led the girl to think she was an officer. She described the interaction this way: “This little angel girl was in need and we connected and I could see that. So I did what any mother on this planet would do.”
Hargitay also recalled the reunion: “I got to hug her mom and her, and it was beautiful.” Her comments provide her own recollection of helping the child, while the reported circumstances of the encounter came through witness accounts. Entertainment Tonight
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
The scene behind the story
Hargitay has played Detective Olivia Benson since Law & Order: SVU premiered in 1999. The April 2024 location shoot took place during the series’ 25th season; ABC News reported that the season began on January 18, 2024. Those dates describe the show at the time of the incident, not its current season.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season One - DVD Brand New
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
