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Photos: 'Chief For A Day' Event Brings Joy To Rutherford Boy, Others

RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jack Boylan leaped onto the chair Friday morning and looked out the window of his Rutherford home.

Bergen County Chief For A Day 2016

Photo Credit: Daily Voice
Jack is sworn as honorary chief in the Council chambers.

Jack is sworn as honorary chief in the Council chambers.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Police Chief John Russo picks up "Chief For a Day" Jack Boylan at his house.

Police Chief John Russo picks up "Chief For a Day" Jack Boylan at his house.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
The chiefs set off for a busy day.

The chiefs set off for a busy day.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack rides shotgun in Russo's cruiser.

Jack rides shotgun in Russo's cruiser.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack meets Lt. Sean Farrell.

Jack meets Lt. Sean Farrell.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack and Russo sit at the chief's desk.

Jack and Russo sit at the chief's desk.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack gets sworn in as police chief in the council chambers.

Jack gets sworn in as police chief in the council chambers.

Photo Credit: Matthew Speiser
Jack with his parents Paul and Patricia and Russo.

Jack with his parents Paul and Patricia and Russo.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack tries out a police motorcycle.

Jack tries out a police motorcycle.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack patrols the streets of Rutherford with Russo.

Jack patrols the streets of Rutherford with Russo.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack hugs his brother, Michael, at Pierrepont School.

Jack hugs his brother, Michael, at Pierrepont School.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack greeted by students at Pierrepont School.

Jack greeted by students at Pierrepont School.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack with his sister, Birghid, at Pierrepont School.

Jack with his sister, Birghid, at Pierrepont School.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack with Pierrepont School Vice Principal Damon Pacenti.

Jack with Pierrepont School Vice Principal Damon Pacenti.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
"Chief Boylan" pulls over Sgt. Mike Garner in a staged incident.

"Chief Boylan" pulls over Sgt. Mike Garner in a staged incident.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Chief to chief.

Chief to chief.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack visits Rutherford High School.

Jack visits Rutherford High School.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack hugs his sister Aileen.

Jack hugs his sister Aileen.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Rutherford High School students greet Jack.

Rutherford High School students greet Jack.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Jack gets a special welcome at Borough Hall.

Jack gets a special welcome at Borough Hall.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser
Big chiefs, little chiefs.

Big chiefs, little chiefs.

Photo Credit: Matt Speiser

"They're here," the excited 8-year-old said.

Boylan answered the door with his mom, Patricia.

"Good morning, chief," said Rutherford Police Chief John Russo."Are you ready to go to work?"

Boylan, who has Down syndrome, was one of 26 Bergen County youngsters invited by their local police departments to be honorary "top cops" in their towns, during the 6th annual "Chief For a Day" event. 

"If we can brighten a part of these kids' lives and make them feel good and important, it is a beautiful thing," said Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, who created the event in order to give children with chronic health conditions a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement.

Jack's special day began at Rutherford police headquarters, where he got to sit in the driver's seat of a police truck and play with the sirens and horns.

Then he took his seat beside Russo in the chief's office and conferred with his officers.

"Are you going to keep us safe today?" Lt. Sean Farrell asked him.

Jack gave him thumbs-up.

Russo later brought him to the Council chambers for his swearing in. 

Jack rode shotgun with Russo over to Pierrepont Elementary School to say hello to his brother, Mike, and sister, Brighid. 

His plan was to arrest them, but he decided to let them off with a hug.

Jack's next stop was the high school to visit his older sister, Aileen -- but on the way over he caught Sgt. Mike Garner throwing trash out of his car window.

"Pull over," Jack barked through the intercom of the chief's cruiser.

Garner picked up the trash and apologized.

Moments later, students poured from their classrooms to greet Jack. Many knew him from Top Dawgs, a soccer program for disabled kids.

Finally, both chiefs and Jack's family went to the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack to meet with their colleagues from dozens of other towns. A motorcade took the chiefs big and small to the Venetian in Garfield for a massive pasta luncheon.

"It is really an honor that they chose Jack to be part of this," Patricia Boylan told Daily Voice. "I don't think this is a day he will soon forget."

Friday's "Chief For A Day" participants:

  • Bergen County Sheriff's Office — Justin Pagan
  • Bergen County Prosecutor's Office — Mason Kidd
  • Bergenfield Police Department — Gisselle Nunez
  • Carlstadt Police Department — Isaiah O'Leary
  • East Rutherford Police Department — Vanessa Uribe-Garcia
  • Elmwood Park Police Department — Gavon Cheski
  • Emerson Police Department — Hugh Hennessey 
  • Englewood Cliffs Police Department — Jun Chul Shin
  • Fair Lawn Police Department — David Hickey
  • Fairview Police Department — Diego Estrada
  • Fort Lee Police Department — Briana Lopez
  • Garfield Police Department — Humberto Portal
  • Hasbrouck Heights Police Department — Jack Oettinger 
  • Haworth Police Department — Brennon McGoldrick
  • Montvale Police Department — Eva Martinez
  • Moonachie Police Department — Jacob Inoue
  • North Arlington Police Department — Dante Basciano
  • Paramus Police Department — Neha Kurian
  • Park Ridge Police Department — Alexander Hermann
  • Rutherford Police Department — Jack Boylan
  • Saddle Brook Police Department — Samantha Maniscalco
  • Teaneck Police Department — Everette Negrin
  • Upper Saddle River Police Department — Brian Derek Baron
  • Wallington Police Department — Amelia Rowniewski 
  • Westwood Police Department — Tyler Gehringer
  • Woodcliff Lake Police Department — Jack Albanese

Check out photos from the day, above.

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