Franklin Boy to be Named Honorary Bridgewater Officer

Franklin Park resident Malik Campbell will be sworn in as an honorary Bridgewater police officer at a special ceremony Wednesday.

Campbell, 4, suffers from a rare form of cancer, and will be honored by the Bridgewater Township Police Department and the Bridgewater Police Benevolent Associaton 174.

The ceremony will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the municipal building on Commons Way.

According to a release from the department, Bridgewater Township Police Chief Richard Borden, who is a cancer survivor, approached the PBA in 2006 to request that toys be donated to Saint Peter's Children's Hospital for the holiday season.

Borden and other PBA officers delivered the toys to the children through the Child Life Program at the hospital, the release said, and they have continued to do so every year since.

In 2012, the release said, they met Campbell at St. Peter's Hospital. Campbell suffers from Burkitt's Leukemia.

While visiting, the release said, officers learned that Campbell loves police officers and is fascinated with their work. Borden later suggested that he be sworn in as an honorary police officer, and Mayor Dan Hayes will present him with a proclamation honoring him as a police officer for the day.

According to the release, Campbell will receive a Bridgewater Police Department Police uniform shirt, and will be sworn in, along with two newly hired officers, before taking a tour of headquarters and driving in a patrol car.