Seaside honors 13-year-old DJ Daniel with cancer as Police Chief
SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) -- Last month, DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old battling cancer, was made an honorary Secret Service agent during the joint address to Congress.
Since then, he has been sworn into hundreds of agencies. Today, he was sworn into the seaside police department.
The Seaside Police Department is the first agency in California to swear in DJ Daniels.
In his 13 years on this earth, DJ Daniel has had 13 brain surgeries.
While he filled the room with jokes, his pockets were filled with badges from police agencies from Sebastopol to Greenfield.
"Since I'm honorary chief, I'm going to have to sign a whole lot of stuff, and I'm not looking forward to it today," said Daniel.
Dj was given just 5 months to live at the age of six.
"The doctors are scratching their heads, asking what's going on here that they're learning from. And so like I said, it's basically your positive spirit is what's gonna get you through. So stay positive, stay positive and you'll get through it," said Theodis, DJ's Father.
"Stay out of trouble, believe in god, stop being mean to people, be kind, and live a great life," said Daniel.
While DJ has been sworn in to hundreds of police departments nationwide, it's his first time in California.
His father said it's a bittersweet goal being in the Golden State.
"This is an actual final goal, and that's what probably hits me right here in the cross. So it saves because we've knocked out every other goal, but this one isn't. He says to me, he said, 'well, this is my final goal and this until my gas tank runs out, which is when God calls you home. And you never know when God calls you home, so it really hits me hard," said Theodis.
The Seaside Police Department's Chief Nick Borges helped accomplish that goal when he gave them a call.
"He told me he doesn't want the patches and coins. He wants hugs. He wants to come out and be sworn in. He likes to meet and greet with people, just like you're seeing here today," said Borges.
Before he leaves California, DJ also had a chance to hit the tracks at Laguna Seca.
DJ plans to leave the Central Coast tomorrow and hopes to be sworn into the LAPD next.
