One way to legitimize a child is to take a paternity test or have the father sign a paternity acknowledgment form. If the mother married the father before the child is born this will also legitimize the child.

The police officer feared that giving the criminals any media attention at all would legitimize their group's existence.

yes

they rock hard

A "legitimate" child is one whose parents were married when s/he was born; therefore, a child support order cannot "legitimize" a child.