Three young cancer patients from New York were sworn in as police officers for a day in a surprise ceremony Wednesday, Newsday reported.
Jesse Pallas, 11, Sean Hughes, 10, and Zachary Cote, 9, have been undergoing cancer treatments. They met at an event for families dealing with childhood cancer and became friends and shared a desire to become police officers when they grew up, the newspaper reported.
Wednesday, the boys thought they were getting a tour of police headquarters in the Long Island hamlet of Yaphank. Instead, they were given badges and sworn in as officers in front of their parents and department members, Newsday reported.
“We did a little bit of homework and some investigating,” police Commissioner Geraldine Hart told the boys. “We discovered that you guys have the qualities that make an exceptional police officer. You’re honest, you’re kind and you’re nice to your friends at school.”
Outside department headquarters, the boys were shown the gear worn by different units and tried on tactical gear that swallowed their bodies, Newsday reported.
“A lot of other kids don’t get to do this,” Sean said. “They’re just at home today because they’re off school.”
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