9-Year-Old Leukemia Patient Becomes Detroit Police Chief for a Day

Two months ago, San Francisco transformed itself into Gotham City for a young cancer patient who always wanted to be Batman. In a similar vein this past weekend, Detroit made it possible for a boy with leukemia who’s an aspiring cop to be police chief for a day.

Thank You Chief Jayvon for allowing us to share your day. God bless and stay safe. pic.twitter.com/FFHOBITmQT

— Detroit Police News (@detroitpolice) February 1, 2014

The Detroit News reports that on Friday, 9-year-old Jayvon Felton, who received his diagnosis in April, was greeted at his home by officers who saluted him. Then he was escorted to the city’s Public Safety Headquarters in a helicopter. Decked out in a S.W.A.T. uniform, he took the oath of office, accepted his badge, sat in on a war room meeting, and reportedly told James Craig, whom he “succeeded” as Police Chief, to “take the day off.”

As Craig explained the importance of this gesture at a news conference, according to the Detroit Free-Press: “It is with this fortitude and courage that humbles even the most hardened police officers and reminds us of why we do what we do every day and how important every precious moment is.”