A year ago, Cameron Boyd couldn’t laugh or smile. On Wednesday, he could barely stop.
Dressed in a tiny Everett police uniform, the 3-year-old grinned as Police Chief Jim Scharf made him chief for the day.
"He’s having fun," said Cameron’s father, Scott Boyd. "We went through so much in the last year, it’s just great to watch him enjoy this."
Cameron finished chemotherapy last month for a brain tumor that put him in the hospital for two months last year. He’s still learning to walk again, but was eager to explore the police cars and fire engines at Everett Memorial Stadium.
He and eight other children with medical challenges were sworn in as chiefs for the day. Wearing kid-sized uniforms, each chief received a shiny badge, a teddy bear and fleece blanket from their department.
"We want these kids to remember this day. If it can take their minds off the hospital visits or being sick for just a little bit, it’s all worth it," Monroe officer Jim Atwood said.
He said the idea for the ceremony came from Chief Mark Mann of the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. Mann has organized similar programs in other areas.
"It was time for Snohomish County. We have great (police) departments around here," Atwood said.
The little chiefs arrived via motorcade, and were tickled to ride in police cars.
Marysville’s honorary chief, Shelby Hintze, 11, said she wants to become an officer.
"I think it would be fun to help people," said Shelby, a sixth-grader.
Her parents, Kurt and Tamara Hintze, joked that they were worried about getting a ticket from their daughter.
"I’m trying to mind my p’s and q’s today," Kurt Hintze said with a laugh. "But it’s her brother that really needs to watch out."
The Washington State Patrol’s chief, Dametrius Rojas, 7, has been practicing for his role all summer, said his sister, Michelle Meguire.
"He has videos of police cars and fire engines, and he loves the sound of sirens," she said. "He just wants to catch the bad guys."
Dametrius then proudly pointed to his badge and announced, "I’m the chief!"
The young chief got a ride in a patrol car and spent the rest of the day with officers, State Patrol trooper Lance Ramsay said.
"Watching these kids, it’s tough to keep a dry eye," Ramsay said. "It’s inspiring. This really lifts them up."
One chief’s seat was empty Wednesday. Jackson Weaver, 12, missed the ceremony after a fever sent him to a hospital emergency room Tuesday night.
But Monroe officers weren’t about to let Jackson, who is battling leukemia, miss out. Officers planned to go Children’s Hospital in Seattle and make him chief.
"He was all smiles," detective Barry Hatch said. "He knows he’s the boss of his dad for a day."
Jackson, the son of a Monroe officer, said his first act would be to "buy the department pizza and tacos." Jackson was able to leave the hospital Wednesday afternoon.
Jack Salmond, 5, was an old hand at his duties as sheriff. Jack helped Sheriff Rick Bart with the department’s awards ceremony last week and wasn’t shy about swearing in the other chiefs on Wednesday.
"He’s been so excited. He woke up at 4 (a.m.), then again at 5 and 6," said his mother, Patty Salmond. "He talks about being a policeman or fireman."
Lynnwood Police Chief Steve Jensen said he was impressed by the picture of a police car that the city’s honorary chief, Lacie Jordan, 13, drew. Next to it, she drew an officer and underneath she wrote "Me."
"We’re celebrating the fact that they have the energy to be here today and have an interest in law enforcement," Jensen said.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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