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ALSO SEE: Girl with rare cancer joins other happy youngsters at Bergen ‘Chief for a Day’ event
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“He had the greatest day, grinning ear to ear all day long,” Sean’s mother, Alison, told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “He even got to see a NJ state police helicopter land, and got to go inside it.”
“From start to finish, it was the greatest day ever!!!!!!”
Besides his escort, and a host of activities, Sean posed with newly-hired Washington Township Police Officers Vincent Santa, Travis Cangialosi, and Christopher Reilly.
“This is a fantastic program for so many reasons,” Alison Ender told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “Not only do these children have such a phenomenal life-long memory — it is a great confidence-booster, as well.
“In addition, it shows them how important law enforcement is, as well as how supportive our law enforcements agencies are to the communities they serve.”
(PHOTOS by WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP P.O. HEATHER CASTRONOVA)
9-year-old Sean Ender among those living dream as ‘Chief for a Day’ Wednesday, 01 June 2011 08:55 Jerry DeMarco
ONLY ON CLIFFVIEW PILOT: No sooner did 9-year-old Sean Ender get his “Chief for a Day” uniform than he began drafting a list of rules for the day, including “Listening to Mom” and “Making sure your seatbelt is on.” Like nearly 20 other Bergen County youngsters chosen to participate in Friday’s heartwarming program, Sean is afflicted by an illness — one that hasn’t prevented him from insisting he be saluted when in full dress.
We salute Sean Ender — and all the other Bergen County “Chiefs for a Day” (CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM PHOTOS)
When the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association and Sheriff Michael Saudino launched the unique program, Washington Township Police Officer Heather Castronova, along with the school D.A.R.E officer, selected Sean.
His parents wholeheartedly supported the decision, and Castronova’s fellow officers overwhelmingly endorsed it.
“He immediately told all of his teachers and friends that he was selected, and he’s been talking about it non-stop since then,” said Sean’s mother, Alison Ender.
Sean attends 3rd grade at Washington School in Washington Township. He loves video games, swimming, playing with friends, being a Cub Scout, the beach, and going on vacation.
He his sister Brooke, 11, both have Joubert Syndrome, a very rare genetic disorder.
“The vermis in the brain is underdeveloped,” Ali Ender told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “[It] controls balance, body temperature, speech and muscle control, among other things.
“Sean is on the very mild end of the spectrum for this disorder. He has some balance issues, low muscle tone and speech delays,” she added, “but his cognitive skills are right on par for his age.”
In fact, Sean has been fully mainstreamed since kindergarten, has terrific teachers, and “the children in his class, as well as his school, are very supportive, and non-judgmental,” his mother said. “The kids always look out for him and make sure he is included. We are very fortunate to have such a great support system.”
Sean at one of his favorite places: the beach
Needless to say, Sean was thrilled when he got to wear his uniform for the first time. The regulations list and saluting requirement only confirmed that he’s police chief material.
“He loves to be in charge, so this is a perfect assignment for him,” Sean’s mom said. “Now he can boss around his sister and his brother, Luke (4).
“We had no idea what kind of life he would have,” Ali Ender admitted. “Some children with this disorder are severely impaired.
“This year, however, Sean has begun to realize that he is a little bit different than the other kids. This is a great boost to his self-esteem.”
The Bergen County Police Chiefs Association and Saudino hope the unprecedented “Chief for a Day” program has that kind of effect on other youngsters, ages 5 through 13, who are participating.
(The other sponsoring police departments are from East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Englewood Cliffs, Garfield, Hasbrouck Heights, Hackensack, Lodi, Maywood, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Saddle Brook, Teaneck, Wallington, Woodcliff Lake and Westwood.)
Each youngster will be sworn in at his or her local headquarters Friday before being given a tour.
Patrol cars will whisk them to the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack, where they will participate in a group ceremony.
A motorcade will then take the group to Lodi Memorial Park for lunch and a variety of demonstrations by K-9 units, the mounted squad and other specialty teams.
Before they’re done, the youngsters will each receive a plaque and certificate.
Maywood’s “Chief for a Day” is a 13 year-old girl who had her ovaries removed at the age of 9 due to a rare form of cancer. The cancer came back to her spine and kidneys a year later and she went through months of treatment.
She is very closely monitored every few weeks (this type of cancer is known to come back): So far, so good.
She has talked of how frightening each appointment is, not knowing whether the cancer is coming back. Local police and others in Maywood and beyond admire her courage and positive attitude.
“She was absolutely glowing when her dad brought her in to tell her she was picked,” Diane Morrell, the administrative assistant to Maywood Police Chief David Pegg, told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “I had to hold back tears.”
“This is a fantastic program for so many reasons,” said Ender. “Not only do these children have such a phenomenal life-long memory — it is a great confidence-booster, as well.
“In addition, it shows them how important law enforcement is, as well as how supportive our law enforcements agencies are to the communities they serve.”
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