ITHACA, NY - After a barbecue at Southside Community Center, Ithaca Police Chief John Barber pulled Mayor Svante Myrick aside and told him he’d found a new police officer at the community outreach event.
“I said, 'Chief, you can't just pick up somebody off the street; this is a tough job,’” Myrick recalled Monday.
But Barber wasn’t recommending just anybody. He wanted Colin Hayward Toland, 9, to join the force and fulfill the boy’s dream of becoming a police officer.
That dream became a reality Monday as Myrick swore Colin in.
At the July barbecue, Barber learned of Colin's nearly lifelong battle with brain cancer. His parents told Barber the boy's dream. Though they told him Colin "likes coffee," Barber mused, Colin was "not so good at fighting crime." So, Colin thought it would be best to be a police receptionist.
Barber disagreed.
"From what I've learned over the last few months, Colin possesses exactly what it takes to be an officer," Barber said. "He possesses courage, bravery, compassion and tenacity. Colin is by far the strongest 9-year-old I have ever met."
Those qualities were recognized Monday afternoon.
Before a crowd of more than 100 of his classmates and police officers from as far away as Auburn and Cortland, Colin was driven to a swearing-in ceremony in a police SUV, lights flashing. His classmates at Northeast Elementary School chanted his name "Colin! Colin!" all the way to the pavilion's front steps.
Hayward said that during a play date at the mall, Colin two weeks shy of his second birthday saw his older brother, Aidan, in a headlock across the ball pit. Before Hayward could respond, Colin ran over with his fist balled, jumped on the other boy and proceeded to pin him down. The brothers got an apology from the boy after that, his father said.
More recently, while awaiting treatment at New York University and unable to speak, Colin motioned to a young girl who had just come out of spinal surgery. Even then, he insisted his father give the girl his teddy bear.
"Even when he was in his greatest need himself," Hayward said. "He was thinking of others."
Going forward, Sept. 12 will be Colin Hayward Toland Day in Ithaca, Myrick announced.
Until next year, Colin will be busy learning to balance being Officer Hayward Toland with his continued studies at Northeast Elementary, Barber said.
“I said, 'Chief, you can't just pick up somebody off the street; this is a tough job,’” Myrick recalled Monday.
But Barber wasn’t recommending just anybody. He wanted Colin Hayward Toland, 9, to join the force and fulfill the boy’s dream of becoming a police officer.
That dream became a reality Monday as Myrick swore Colin in.
At the July barbecue, Barber learned of Colin's nearly lifelong battle with brain cancer. His parents told Barber the boy's dream. Though they told him Colin "likes coffee," Barber mused, Colin was "not so good at fighting crime." So, Colin thought it would be best to be a police receptionist.
Barber disagreed.
"From what I've learned over the last few months, Colin possesses exactly what it takes to be an officer," Barber said. "He possesses courage, bravery, compassion and tenacity. Colin is by far the strongest 9-year-old I have ever met."
Those qualities were recognized Monday afternoon.
Before a crowd of more than 100 of his classmates and police officers from as far away as Auburn and Cortland, Colin was driven to a swearing-in ceremony in a police SUV, lights flashing. His classmates at Northeast Elementary School chanted his name "Colin! Colin!" all the way to the pavilion's front steps.
Hayward said that during a play date at the mall, Colin two weeks shy of his second birthday saw his older brother, Aidan, in a headlock across the ball pit. Before Hayward could respond, Colin ran over with his fist balled, jumped on the other boy and proceeded to pin him down. The brothers got an apology from the boy after that, his father said.
More recently, while awaiting treatment at New York University and unable to speak, Colin motioned to a young girl who had just come out of spinal surgery. Even then, he insisted his father give the girl his teddy bear.
"Even when he was in his greatest need himself," Hayward said. "He was thinking of others."
Going forward, Sept. 12 will be Colin Hayward Toland Day in Ithaca, Myrick announced.
Until next year, Colin will be busy learning to balance being Officer Hayward Toland with his continued studies at Northeast Elementary, Barber said.
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