Aurora's Newest Cop Is Just 10 Years Old
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- A brave 5th grader was sworn in as an honorary police officer in Aurora on Wednesday. It was a dream come true for the 10-year-old who has battled cancer for more than a year.
Gabriel Santistevan arrived at Aurora City Hall for the special ceremony in style with police lights flashing and sirens blaring, all accompanied by a motorcade surrounding a stretch limo.
He called it, "Amazing."
Inside the Aurora City Council chambers there was some horsing around with Miles, the Denver Broncos mascot, along with some hugs.
After the lightheartedness it was all business as the Aurora Police Department honored Santistevan with a formal ceremony as he became an honorary police officer.
Santistevan has been battling brain and spinal cancer with surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy for the past 14 months.
"Gabriel has indicate that it's his desire to be a police officer," said Aurora Police Chief Terry Jones.
The group Cops Fighting Cancer helped make Wednesday's ceremony happen and Santistevan's dreams come true.
Jones presented Santistevan with an Aurora Police Dept. hat, cap, coin and badge. Then he swore him in.
Santistevan described his treatment for the past year, "It's been brutal, just really brutal."
He said the day was amazing and became emotional as he sat next to his mom, Kathleen, during the ceremony.
"It's just cool that she could help me do this," said Santistevan.
"I didn't think about hospitals today. I thought about him and how happy he was and the smile on his face that wouldn't stop," said Kathleen.
Officers also gave Santistevan his first ride in a patrol car.
The courageous 10-year-old is determined to fight cancer so he can one day fight crime.
Santistevan said his first line of duty would be to catch all the bad guys and save the town.
LINK: copsfightingcancer.org
