Meet IMPD’s newest officer: A 7-year-old boy fighting cancer

By Sarah Bahr, Indianapolis Star
Original article HERE

A 7-year-old boy fighting cancer stopped by a southwest-side McDonald’s on Thursday in search of some French fries.

He left an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer.

IMPD Southwest District Captain Tom Koppel was at the restaurant for a “Coffee with a Cop” event, when he “immediately noticed” Sebastian “as a bonafide hard-charger,” according to an IMPD Southwest District Facebook post.

Koppel gave a smiling Sebastian a gold badge and swore him in on the spot.

“Many of you may not know this, but IMPD Captains are granted a special ability to swear in young men and women as officers to help us fight crime in our community,” the post said.

But not just any young man or woman is officer material.

“Only in the rarest of occasions does this happen and only to the absolutely most brave and deserving candidates,” according to the post.

Sebastian’s mom and dad are so proud of their new policeman.

“How awesome is this?!?!” his dad, Terry Cheek, wrote on Facebook. “I haven’t cried that hard in so long. My little man deserves this!”

“I’m sad I missed this today but soooo happy for him and what is to come in the next few weeks!!!!!!!” his mom, Brittany Jeanne Freeland, wrote.

Today is Sebastian’s last round of chemotherapy at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, Cheek said. On Friday, he got to ring a bell at the hospital after completing his cancer treatment — symbolizing that cancer had met its match.

“Godspeed to Sebastian and his family,” the IMPD post said. “Let everyone in Central Indiana hear that bell when you ring it, Little Brother!”