Photos: LAPD officers bond with young cancer patients, thanks to Sunshine Kids
Jamari Jenkins receives an honorary LAPD badge at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Makenna Dematteo gets a hug from “Ginger” a LAPD tracking dog at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Haylee Bueno tries out the seat in an LAPD helicopter as officer Jamie Delieuze looks on at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
LAPD officers wear Sunshine Foundations stars in honor of kids from the program visiting the police academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Muqaddim Malik is greeted by “Blaze” an LAPD horse at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Elizabeth Marrasquin tries out a LAPD motorcycle at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Children from the Sunshine Foundation get a group photo with the LAPD at the Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Kaylen Urbina receives an honorary LAPD badge at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Los Angeles Police Department swears in children from the Sunshine Kids Foundation at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The kids were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter during the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Los Angeles Police Department presents kids from the Sunshine Kids Foundation hooray badges at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The kids were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter during the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Los Angeles Police Department welcomes kids from the Sunshine Kids Foundation to the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The kids were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter during the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Jamari Jenkins receives an honorary LAPD badge at the LAPD Police Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. The LAPD hosted children from the Sunshine Foundation at a special lunch event. The participants were sworn in as honorary officers and got a chance to interact with officers and equipment, including a LAPD helicopter at the lunch event. The Sunshine Foundation offers experiences to children who are battling cancer. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Makenna Dematteo made a new friend on Wednesday. Ginger’s a bloodhound — and cop.
Her new pal is a canine officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, the agency that hosted a special lunch, along with the Sunshine Kids Foundation, to benefit children battling cancer.
Ginger, by the way, is a LAPD tracking dog. Markenna was delighted to give the working pooch a big hug. And Ginger didn’t seem to mind at all taking the morning off from sniffing out clues.
The LAPD invited children from the foundation, which coordinates hands-on experiences for kids fighting cancer, to meet members of the force and get a taste of law-enforcement life.
According to its website, Sunshine Kids, established in 1982, provides positive group activities and emotional support, free of charge, for young cancer patients across North America. The goal: Encourage kids to have fun and celebrate life while boosting their self-esteem as they grapple with health challenges.
On Wednesday, young participants were sworn in as honorary LAPD officers and got a chance to interact with real-life cops and their equipment.
They got to climb aboard police motorcycles, meet horses that serve on equestrian teams and chat with scores of LAPD officers. Among the highlights for the kids: Climbing in for an up-close look inside a real LAPD helicopter.
Many of the officers positioned little yellow Sunshine Kids buttons next to their badges to show support for the foundation.
More information on Sunshine Kids: www.sunshinekids.org.