Related article: Ga. child gets wish to ‘fight bad guys’
By Christina Geller
The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department’s newest recruit had a slightly different take on the job after his first spin in a police cruiser Monday.
“I want to do it again. I want to do it until I barf,” Kyle Spriggs said as the car came to a stop. “Who needs a roller coaster?”
Or even a uniform.
Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle made 8-year-old Kyle an honorary officer Monday, three months after Dallas officers befriended the Oklahoma boy. They met after Kyle’s backpack was stolen during a trip to Dallas for chemotherapy treatment for a brain tumor.
The backpack, which was stolen from the family’s car when they stopped at a restaurant for breakfast, contained Kyle’s medicine, homework and video games. His parents, Chris and Patricia Spriggs, dutifully reported the theft – which occurred the day before Kyle’s birthday – to Dallas police but didn’t expect much more.
But when Officer Matt Passmore heard about the theft, he and Senior Cpl. Bill Knobel and Officer Mike Nealey raised $1,200 to replace the stolen medication and repair the car window that thieves broke to get to Kyle’s backpack. They also gave him a PlayStation Portable, a birthday card, and a couple of video games and movies.
“Matt just happened to be the one who answered the call,” Sr. Cpl. Knobel said. “He, Mike and myself decided to do something about it, and it ballooned into all of this.”
The boy’s parents recently contacted Dallas police asking if Kyle could see his Police Department friends again. Officer Passmore went to work setting up a tour."They planned all of this for us, for him. Matt made all the arrangements for us,” Mr. Spriggs said. “It takes his mind off all he’s going through.” Kyle’s brain tumor has left him blind in one eye.
As Chief Kunkle presented Kyle a plaque Monday making him an honorary police officer, he made him an even bigger offer.
“When you get better, we expect you to be a Dallas police officer,” the chief said.
Kyle thinks he wants to be a police officer, but he’s less sure about pounding a beat in Dallas. Either way, he already has his partner picked out.
“I hope I can be your partner,” he told Officer Passmore.
In addition to his plaque, Kyle was given a tour of the police training academy, the police museum and the 911 call center. He also met members of Dallas SWAT, saw a horse from the department’s mounted unit and watched the takeoff of a police helicopter.
“We had this scheduled for a couple of weeks ago, but he was too ill for treatments so we moved it to June 23,” Cpl. Knobel said of the day’s events. “He was determined to be here whether or not he was here for treatment.”
Kyle, whose family stays at the Ronald McDonald House during his treatments, was all smiles during his ride in the police car at the Dallas Police Training Academy on Red Bird Lane. Sitting in a booster seat between his mom and sister Christina, 12, Kyle waved as he rode past officers who had assembled to watch him.
“I’m really glad they did all of this for Kyle,” Christina said. “Usually a police officer would just do their job and leave, but they actually cared.”
Ms. Spriggs said Kyle’s prognosis for recovery is good, and days like Monday help even more. She added that even though his backpack was stolen, the family is grateful, in a way, because they made friends they otherwise would not have.
“We always try to teach the kids that from every bad thing that’s happened, something good comes from it,” Ms. Spriggs said, appearing moved.
“And that’s what happened here.”
Copyright 2008 The Dallas Morning News