Freeport Police Department/FacebookA six-year-old girl from Texas has become an honorary member of the Freeport Police Department, pledging to ‘keep fighting the bad guys’.
Abigail Arias was diagnosed with Wilms Tumours, a form of cancer that starts in the kidneys and can be terminal.
After meeting Freeport Police Chief Ray Garivey in December, the young girl confided in him how she’d always wanted to be a police officer.
This week, Officer Garivey saw to it that Abigail’s dream came true. Wearing a specially made uniform and standing on a stepladder, Abigail was sworn in as an honorary officer in front of the whole police department.
Posting a video of the emotional moment on Facebook, the Freeport Police Department wrote:
Congratulations to the newest member of the Freeport Police Department, Honorary Officer Abigail Rose Arias!
She took an oath today to continue fighting the “bad guys” until she is cancer free!
What a great day for the City of Freeport, and our Law Enforcement Family from all over this great state, who were in attendance!
Also a special thanks to Rick Fernandez owner of Cop Stop Inc. for the wonderful FPD uniform and duty rig! #thinblueline
Abigail told ABC13:
I have cancer. The bad guys are in my lungs. I rung the bell, but now this cancer is coming back.
You can watch the video here:
Congratulations to the newest member of the Freeport Police Department, Honorary Officer Abigail Rose Arias! She took an oath today to continue fighting the “bad guys” until she is cancer free! What a great day for the City of Freeport, and our Law Enforcement Family from all over this great state, who were in attendance! Also a special thanks to Rick Fernandez owner of Cop Stop Inc. for the wonderful FPD uniform and duty rig! #thinblueline Ruben Arias
Posted by Freeport Police Department on Thursday, 7 February 2019
Speaking to CNN, Officer Garivey said:
Her spirit, her toughness, her will to survive, that’s what [we believe in]. Her terrific smile and will to keep fighting ‘the bad guys’ inside of her – I wanted to make her dream come true.
You have to meet her to really understand what a great and inspiring young lady she is.
Also sharing the story on Facebook, Angleton Police Department wrote:
This morning APD Officer Brad Briscoe attended a special swearing-in ceremony at Freeport Police Department where Abigail Arias was made an Honorary Police Officer.
Abigail is battling cancer, and doctors have told the family there is no cure.
Freeport PD helped fulfil Abigail’s dream of becoming a police officer and held a ceremony for her this morning. Please keep her and the Arias family in your thoughts and prayers.
This morning APD Officer Brad Briscoe attended a special swearing-in ceremony at Freeport Police Department where…
Posted by Angleton Police Department on Thursday, 7 February 2019
The ceremony was attended by Abigail’s friends and family, as well as a number of police officers from across Texas.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues, and want to speak to someone in confidence contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 8pm).
Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.