Joey Fabus, an 8-year-old from Bethel Park, stands amongst Bethel Park police officers wearing a similar uniform before being sworn in as an honorary officer for the department.
Joey, excited yet nervous for the day, looks down at his new police uniform given to him by the Bethel Park Police Department.
Magisterial District Judge Ron Arnoni swears in Joey as an honorary officer at the Bethel Park police station on June 24, 2014. “I feel safer now that you're part of our police department,” said Arnoni.
Joey's mother Cindy watches from the crowd as Joey is recognized by Jack Allen, the mayor of Bethel Park, as an honorary officer. "We're just trying to give him the best life possible right now,” said Cindy.
When community officer and family friend Tom Rigatti heard of Joey's condition, he didn't hesitate to work with Joey's family and police Chief John Mackey in making Joey's dream possible.
Joey orders a traffic citation to Officer Rigatti's daughter, Mia, 19, after pulling her over in Rigatti's police car for allegedly running a stop sign. Despite a day full of police activities, Joey never got tired and smiled throughout the whole day.
Officer Tom Rigatti gives Joey advice before entering the court room.
Joey receives his own pair of hand cuffs as a gift from the police department after being sworn in.
David Fabus holds his son as Cindy congratulates him for being brave during the ceremony.
Joey waves goodbye to his family and friends as he drives off in Officer Tom Rigatti's police car at the end of the day.
Joey's funeral was treated as a police officer's with over a hundred officers from the Pittsburgh area in attendance to honor his life at the St. Bernard Parish in Mt. Lebanon on Monday, January 26, 2015.
Members of the Bethel Park community, like Katie Hogue and her daughter Mia Hogue, 4, lined the streets on the morning of Joey's funeral holding signs that read "Joey is our hero" and "Joey Strong" as the funeral procession passed the Bethel Park police station. The Bethel Park community has been a support system for the Fabus' throughout Joey's life with DIPG.
Family and friends of Joey let go of blue balloons in honor of his life after his funeral at the Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.