Arizona DPS SWAT fulfills wish of 7-year-old cancer patient
Dec 8, 2017, 4:45 AM | Updated: 12:56 pm
(Twitter Photo/Make-A-Wish Arizona)
(Twitter Photo/Make-A-Wish Arizona)
PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Public Safety’s SWAT team fulfilled the wish of seven-year-old Raiden Aguilera Thursday, swearing him in as a SWAT officer.
“We were contacted by Make-A-Wish about six weeks ago,” said Col. Frank Milstead, the director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. “I swore him in as a trooper for the day at Sky Harbor airport.”
Today's the day! Wish kid Raiden is being sworn in as an official #SWAT team member with @Arizona_DPS! #RaidensWish pic.twitter.com/ficWG7dpVr
— Make-A-Wish Arizona (@MakeAWishAZ) December 7, 2017
DPS worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona to fulfill the wish of Raiden, who suffers from Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a rare form of cancer that targets the LCH cells used to fight off infections.
After he was sworn in, Raiden and his sister Mariah were flown in the DPS Ranger 1 helicopter to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where Raiden receives treatment.
There, they learned of four SWAT officers dressed as characters from “Batman” holding two Build-A-Bears hostage.
The two were transported to the SWAT training facility, where the staged hostage situation gave them the task of assisting other SWAT officers in the rescue.
Thanks to local vendors, a SWAT uniform was made for Raiden along with boots and a helmet.
After a lesson in tactical strategy, he joined his fellow SWAT officers while Mariah acted as a hostage negotiator in SWAT’s armored vehicle.
Helping @MakeAWishAZ making a wish come true today for Raiden. #SWATKid pic.twitter.com/kunTJ98spV
— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) December 7, 2017
Eventually, Raiden and the rest of the SWAT team rescued the hostages and captured the four suspects involved.
Raiden’s day concluded with a ride in the SWAT armored vehicle to another location where him and his family enjoyed a lunch with his fellow officers.
For Col. Frank Milstead, granting Raiden’s wish was just as special for him as it was for his new officer.
The Arizona chapter of the Make-A-Wish foundation started in 1980, granting its first wish that same year for Chris Greicius, who wanted to be a state trooper.
Like Raiden, Chris’ wish was made possible by DPS. At the time, the director for DPS was Col. Ralph Milstead, Col. Frank Milstead’s father.
“Today I got to walk in my dad’s shoes and grant another wish for a child who loves law enforcement and what we stand for,” Col. Frank Milstead said. “It was an honor to help him fulfill his wish.
“Probably the best day I have had all year.”
Since its start, the Make-A-Wish foundation of Arizona has used funding from donors to fulfill the wish of more than 5,500 families in Arizona.
