Round Lake fulfills boy's dream of becoming a police officer
An inoperable, cancerous brain tumor hasn't stopped A.J. Peterson from fulfilling his dream of becoming a Round Lake police officer.
The 7-year-old boy was sworn in as a junior reserve officer at this week's Round Lake village board meeting. His father, Adrian, a Chicago Bears running back from 2002 to 2009 who now is a motivational speaker, pinned a police badge on A.J. during the swearing-in ceremony.
Peterson said he and his wife, Angela, learned of A.J.'s desire to become an officer when she asked what he wanted to be when he grows up.
“He mentioned it and we kind of looked at each other,” Peterson said with a chuckle.
Angela Peterson and the couple's three other children — ages 5, 4 and 10 months — also were in village hall for the special night. She said the gesture meant a lot to her family, which has coped with A.J.'s illness for about seven months.
“What I can say is, as a family, we feel revived,” Angela Peterson said Wednesday.
In addition to his family, A.J. was supported during the evening by Jonah Kolesar, a fellow 7-year-old who is suffering from life-threatening autoimmune disorders and was sworn in as a Round Lake junior officer in January 2014. Jonah applauded after A.J. received his badge.
Police Chief Michael Gillette said he and others at the department are privileged to help when asked to fulfill a child's dream of becoming a cop.
“One of the things we always think about is trying to make it as nice as we can for the child, so it's a really good and wholesome feeling,” Gillette said.
A.J. is a student at Park School Campus in Round Lake, which educates kindergarten through eighth grade as part of Grayslake Elementary District 46. Last June, he was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, an embedded, inoperable cancerous tumor in the brainstem.
Round Lake pulled out all the stops for A.J. on Monday night, as the village did for Jonah last year.
First, A.J. received a pint-size Round Lake police uniform and hat. Squad cars and fire trucks from several Lake County agencies then escorted A.J. from police headquarters to Round Lake village hall so he could be sworn in as an officer.
Angela Peterson said despite an unfavorable long-term prognosis, A.J. has been fighting his cancer without complaint.
“Seeing his dad, my husband, give him that badge is so well deserved,” she said.
Adrian Peterson said the family has received much support through a Facebook page called #AJSOARS. He said his son has inspired others with his upbeat attitude in fighting cancer.
Other suburban police departments also have helped seriously ill children achieve their dream of becoming an officer.
Most recently, Palatine first-grader Adam Brodersen, who was born with a heart defect, lived out his dream through the generosity of Buffalo Grove police last July. Adam, 7, was made an officer for a day, complete with uniform and plastic handcuffs on his hips.