Devarjay “DJ” Daniel, diagnosed with brain and spine cancer when he was just 6 years old, has been sworn in by 871 departments across the U.S. and beyond.
A little boy with a big personality, a fatal disease and a longtime dream to become a police officer was sworn in Friday as an honorary deputy chief at the Birmingham Police Department.
When he was initially given five months to live, he set a goal of being sworn in by 100 police departments. “What each of signed up for in law enforcement was to serve, protect, give back to others and help somebody in need,’’ Thurmond said. One day, three police officers brought the boys to Daniel and the father initially though they were in trouble. Police assured them they were not, and they just wanted to provide some pizza for the boys.
“You definitely inspire us, especially him,’’ Daniel, a veteran, said to the officers on Friday. “I’m comfortable with someone in a uniform because I was in the military, and they’d make fun for me for always talking to police officers.”“When he leaves in the morning to go to school, it’s no different than your families and loved ones looking at you in your uniform as you walk out the door and they’re praying that you come back in,’’ Daniel said. “I do that every day with him.
@River-State Birmingham Police @River-All
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