BADGE OF COURAGE BOY MADE HONORARY POLICEMAN.Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer GLENDALE - Five-year-old Sako Harutunyan raised a small right hand Wednesday as Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams knelt knelt v. A past tense and a past participle of kneel. knelt Verb the past of kneel knelt kneel down and swore him in as an honorary policeman - the boy's dream come true. Sako, diagnosed at 11 months with a malignant brain tumor Brain Tumor Definition A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. Unlike other tumors, brain tumors spread by local extension and rarely metastasize (spread) outside the brain. , wore a custom-made, dark blue police uniform with nameplate, plastic handcuffs hand·cuff n. A restraining device consisting of a pair of strong, connected hoops that can be tightened and locked about the wrists and used on one or both arms of a prisoner in custody; a manacle. Often used in the plural. tr.v. and black shoes, and received a badge of his own - all granted as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that grants wishes to children (2.5 years to 18 years old) with life-threatening medical conditions. . ``We have the distinct privilege and honor to swear in the youngest officer we've had in the history of the department: Sako Harutunyan, age 5,'' Adams said. The youngster, who loves everything about law enforcement, was so excited about his day being near police officers and their equipment, that his mother said he woke up four times during the night checking that his uniform was still there. ``Imagine my Sako's happiness because his dream has been realized,'' said his mother, Karine Kalemjyan. ``I would want him to be older so he would have been able to express his feelings, but since he has a tumor tumor: see neoplasm. we don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what will be in the future. As a mother, I'm very happy and moved about everything everyone has done to help us.'' Sako was taken on a tour of the department, including the crime lab, and even made a stop at the Glendale Galleria The Glendale Galleria is a large 3 story regional shopping mall located in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. It is the second largest mall in Los Angeles County. It is located in Downtown Glendale. where he would be able to conduct a mock arrest, all in an effort by officials to give him as realistic an experience as possible. Later in the evening, Sako visited the Burbank Airport to look at the department's helicopters. ``We feel totally honored as the men and women of the Police Department to help make his lifetime wish come true, when the reality is a child in Make-A-Wish can select a lot of different wishes,'' Adams said. ``To know that the most important thing to Sako is to be a police officer touches all of us.'' Harley Wing, a detective for the Glendale Police Department and a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation - which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses - said it makes him glad to help make an ailing child's dream Child's Dream (Child’s Dream Association) - non-profit charity organization for helping underprivileged children in the Mekong Sub-Region, incorporated in Switzerland, Canton Zurich and based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. come true. ``I think it's wonderful to be able to create a memory not only for the child but for the family - something they can enjoy for a short period of time,'' said Wing, a 17-year veteran of the Glendale department. Sako was born with a small cyst cyst, abnormal sac in the body, filled with a fluid or semisolid and enclosed in a membrane. Cysts can be congenital but are usually acquired, the most common locations being the skin and the ovaries. on his neck that was removed when he was 7 months old. Four months later doctors found he had an aggressive brain tumor. His young life has been consumed with five surgeries, regular hospital visits and physical therapy. The tumor has not grown in size in more than two years, and if it remains the same size for an additional 2 1/2 years, his mother said doctors believe he could beat the illness. The family continues to pray and hopes for the best, reminded each time they go to the hospital of the difficulties they've undergone. ``Our hopes are big. God has a purpose for keeping my child until now,'' she said. Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Glendale Police Department gang unit Officers Harley Wing, left, and Javier Ruiz Javier Ruiz (Aug 18, 1973) is the current Chief Editor at Cadena SER, and host of the business show "Hora 25 de los Negocios" , center, welcome honorary policeman Sako Harutunyan, 5, as they prepare Thursday to hit the crime labs and streets during a Make-A-Wish Foundation dream come true. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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