Monday, Nov. 18, was a special day at the Garland Police Department. Beckett Burge reported for SWAT team duty and was sworn in by Chief Jeff Bryan. The 4-year-old, who is courageously fighting cancer, has talked about wanting to be a SWAT officer for more than two years, and the GPD made it happen.
SWAT Lt. Dan Colasanto, along with Officer Tom Divers, teamed up to ensure that Beckett had everything he needed for his SWAT training. He received a SWAT T-shirt, cap and helmet before being presented with his favorite piece of equipment – a nerf gun.
“If you’re going to train with SWAT, you’ve got to have a rifle,” Divers told him.
After the swearing-in, Bryan pinned a badge on the new officer. Beckett realized that he was missing something and asked to tell the chief a secret – which was that he also needed handcuffs.
The young officer then went through a long high-five line of officers on his way out to take a look at the SWAT equipment.
After Divers gave him a tour of the trailer where he got to see the guns and shields, Beckett took a few shots with his nerf gun before leaving for the training facility.
While training, he got to shoot lots of bad guys and even had to kick the door in to get to some of them.
Beckett’s mother said that this was the most energy she had seen him have in two weeks.
“I think it is absolutely amazing that they gave up their time to come out and do something like this for him,” she said. “He absolutely loves the police officers and loves the SWAT team.”
Colasanto said that Beckett enjoyed his training time.
“He was running around the training site with the guys and I think he tired them out,” Colasanto said. “It was a good time for the guys,”
He added that they do not usually get to have fun in their job.
“We are dealing with some bad things and bad people and this gave us an opportunity to help out Beckett and have a good time,” Colasanto said. “He’s a tough kid and he’s an inspiration for us.”
At the end of his training session, Beckett said that his favorite part was shooting bad guys.
Travis Carter, a paramedic with the Garland Fire Department who also serves as a paramedic with the SWAT team, set this surprise for Beckett in motion. A friend that he plays baseball with told him about Beckett.
“My friend told me that one of Beckett’s dreams was to meet a SWAT team, and I know a SWAT team,” Carter said.