Back in 2022, American Police Beat ran a story (tinyurl.com/4je4454n) on Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a young boy from Texas who had been sworn in as an honorary police chief of the Houston Independent School District.
The honor was a touching moment for Daniel, who has been battling with incurable brain and spinal cancer since 2018. Initially given just five months to live, Daniel was determined to never give up. He made it his goal a few years ago to become a member of 100 law enforcement agencies around the country. It was a lofty goal but one that his father believed could be completed.
Fast-forward over two-and-a-half years later, and the initial benchmark probably seems laughable now for the young honorary boy in blue.
Recently, NBC 5 News in New York reported that Daniel had been sworn in by New York State Police Troop B, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and three other local departments, to make it nearly 900 agencies around the country that Daniel has been sworn in by. Daniel’s new goal is to be sworn in by 1,000 agencies.
“I’m going to keep on going until my gas tank runs out,” Daniel told ABC 22 and FOX 44. When asked what that means, he replied, “That’s when God calls you home. You never know when God calls you home unless that light leaves your eyes.”
One of Daniel’s most recent stops was at the Lake Charles Police Department in Louisiana. While visiting the department, Daniel and his dad met Corporal Julia Courville, who invited them back to department headquarters. Daniel was fit with his official uniform before being sworn in by Deputy Chief Michael Nicosia.
“We are so appreciative of the time we were able to spend in his presence. His positive and courageous outlook on life is something we will not soon forget,” LCPD said on Facebook. “Thank you, DJ, for being an incredible reminder of why we all answer the call to serve our community. Thank you for turning an ordinary moment into an extraordinary one for us all.”
When he’s not trying to figure out where to keep the mound of patches, badges and uniforms he’s accumulating, the young fighter holds to a pretty straightforward gameplan.
“Believe in God. Stay out of trouble. Always pray to God every day. And please pray for the kids who have brain cancer.”
