Boy battling cancer for 3rd time becomes honorary deputy

Author: The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

By PoliceOne Staff

HENRY COUNTY, Ind. — A young boy’s wish has come true thanks to an Indiana sheriff’s department.

WXIN-TV reports that 6-year-old Brantley Taber became an honorary sheriff’s deputy for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday at his school. Brantley is battling cancer for the third time and has maxed out his lifetime of chemotherapy doses, and the only option left for the boy is trial medicine.

After learning that the boy has always wanted to be an LEO, the department made his wish come true. Departments around the state who got wind of the project also went to the school to welcome the young man to the force.

Went to Tri High for Brantley Taber’s swearing in ceremony today. What a great turn out of officers! Thank you to everyone for taking part in it. I wanted to share my favorite moment of the day! #motherandson #ISPcamps pic.twitter.com/UO3htVWzlp

— Sgt. Danielle Henderson (@ISPcamps) April 10, 2018

“It’s such a great cause and such a great thing for him to have just one amazing day and to know he has so many people that support him and are backing him is just a great thing,” Deputy Bertrand said.

Brantley received a badge and got to participate in mock arrests.

Kia, Brantley’s mother, said she didn’t expect to see so many LEOs come to the school to watch her son become an honorary deputy.

“I’m fighting back tears walking up and seeing the 50 some police officers that are here and all the police cars outside, it’s overwhelming,” she said.