Ailing 5-year-old girl is sworn in as police officer

**Buttercup** · 11-11-07, 12:43 AM

Ailing 5-year-old girl is sworn in as police officer

November 9, 2007

By AMBER HUNT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

New Baltimore Police Officer Tim Wiley escorts Juliana Marrocco, 5, into City Hall today to be sworn in as the city's youngest cop. (WILLIAM ARCHIE/Detroit Free Press)

Juliana Marrocco has just two goals: to be a doctor so she can save people, and to be a police officer so she can protect them.
Doctors said the cancer that’s been attacking the 5-year-old’s brain since she was just 4 months old would make it unlikely she’d ever reach either goal.

That changed Friday.

That’s when, aided by the New Baltimore Police Department, little Juliana donned a police jacket and a tiny gold badge and was sworn in by the Macomb County city’s mayor and police chief as the youngest officer in the department’s history.

Her wispy blonde hair hidden beneath a too-large NBPD baseball cap, Juliana clung to Detective Tim Wiley — her “partner” for the day — as she tackled her first assignment: arresting big sister Kayla from her fourth-grade class at Ashley Elementary School.

It seemed a light-hearted gesture to outsiders — the sisters went to McDonald’s for lunch, after all, and not to jail. But for Juliana’s mother, it was overwhelming.

“She’s just been through so much,” Rai Ann Marrocco said through tears. “She inspires me.”

Juliana’s journey through cancer started as an inexplicable lazy eye. After a CT Scan, however, doctors realized she had a tumor in her brain.

When Juliana was 9 months old, doctors performed surgery — only to learn that the tumor was inoperable.

The chemotherapy began.

“It’s been one thing after another with her,” said her aunt, and Rai Ann’s sister, Donna Bourcier, 45, of North Branch.

The single tumor has turned into four. None is operable.

After three years of chemotherapy, doctors moved onto 30 radiation treatments. Juliana has undergone treatment every weekday for a month. Her final treatment is the day before Thanksgiving.

Her family will learn between 6 to 12 months after that whether Juliana beat the odds.

“We’re grateful for whatever time we have with her,” Bourcier said.

**Pudge** · 11-11-07, 12:47 AM

Great story! And MEGA-props to the New Baltimore PD for making this girl's dream come true.

**armsmaster270** · 11-11-07, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by Pudge113

Great story! And MEGA-props to the New Baltimore PD for making this girl's dream come true.

I agree 200%

**Ender** · 11-11-07, 01:00 AM

thats awesome! heartbreaking story though, i really hope she beats the odds on this one.

**Rhino** · 11-11-07, 01:37 AM

Aw, dammit! I got something in my eye again.

**Car 4** · 11-11-07, 01:51 AM

And you guys were trashing hope on another thread the other day......well, kids.....there is what gives me hope!

Car 4

**jcsdscott** · 11-11-07, 02:49 AM

Indeed there is always hope. This was a great thing done by NBPD to lift this little girl up, and I will continue to pray for her.

**deputy29** · 11-11-07, 03:42 AM

I also have something in my eye. Prayers sent for her and her family.

**lewisipso** · 11-11-07, 03:47 AM

Originally Posted by deputy29

I also have something in my eye. Prayers sent for her and her family.

Me too. I think it's a tear.

**deputy29** · 11-11-07, 04:22 AM

I had a physically handicapped brother and many years ago they had a doll with equipment come out that was called Rescue Jim. Our father had left the year before and there was no way our mother could get this toy that he wanted so bad for him. The county Search and Rescue in the area we lived in found out about my brother and his wish for this toy. A few days before Christmas all this rescue vehicles showed up at our house. My brother had had surgery a few months before and was in a body cast. Not only did they have the toy he had wanted but they also made him a member of Search and Rescue. One of the members carried him, body cast and all, out to one of the rigs where they gave him a ride. They also brought presents for my mother, other brother and me.

My brother passed away three years ago but that framed certificate saying he was a member of Search and Rescue still hangs on the wall.

This is one of the things that made me decide to become an officer. I wanted to be able to do something for people the way these people had done for my brother.

**Ducky** · 11-11-07, 11:31 AM

Damn allergies are making my eyes water.

**depusm12** · 11-11-07, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Ducky

Damn allergies are making my eyes water.

Same here.

**countybear** · 11-11-07, 11:44 AM

Its more than just protect and serve folks. What a great example of why we really do this: a deep abiding love for our fellow man. Let none of us ever forget that. Awesome story, puts it all into perspective.

**Rhino** · 11-11-07, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by countybear

Its more than just protect and serve folks. What a great example of why we really do this: a deep abiding love for our fellow man.

Speak for yourself. I hate people.

Just kidding... but not really.

1*girl · 11-11-07, 12:47 PM

Major props to New Baltimore PD!!!

**Ender** · 11-12-07, 12:39 AM

hey guys...i stole this story and posted it on another board, figured Buttercup wouldn't mind.

got a follow up article:

http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/p...00308/-1/RSS04

know a Deputy from the area, i'll have to ask him if he's heard about this. very touching story, very sad, and very inspiring at the same time.

kudos to the Dept., big time.

**Star Man** · 11-12-07, 12:53 AM

Very touching, I hope she beats the odds and pulls through.

**Wolven** · 11-12-07, 08:06 PM

Before I read everyone else's comments, I thought to myself that there probably wasn't a dry eye in the house when she came to visit and be sworn in. Guess the same thing could be said here, huh? Oh wait...we are not tearing up...we all just suffer from horrible allergies.

Stories like this make it possible for me to see that not all people are bad. Somedays it is hard to remember that in this job. Kudos to the Baltimore PD!