THERE’S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN!
Little Hamish was sworn in as one of Queensland Police’s youngest ever recruits
Junior Constable Hamish is no ordinary police officer. He’s six years old, incredibly brave and loves to catch bad guys.
His dream was fulfilled last month when he was officially sworn into the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and issued his own police ID badge, uniform and certificate.
Arriving in style on a police boat, Hamish was given a glimpse into life as an officer as he was piped in by Police Pipes and Drums and was greeted by his new colleagues in the Dog Squad and Polair, his beaming smile visible to all.
Hamish’s love of policing began when he was gifted a toy police car while recovering in hospital after a bone marrow transplant. “It had flashing lights and sirens, and he thought it was the greatest thing he’s ever seen,” his mum Haley tells Woman’s Day.
Hamish was just two when he was diagnosed with dyskeratosis congenita – a rare condition that can cause multiple organ failure – after Haley spotted his skin had become translucently white.
Haley, 32, believes he is the only surviving person in Australia with the condition.
After asking “all the time” if he could become a police officer, Haley wrote a letter to Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, asking if he could join the QPS.
It was an emotional day for the family after they recently received news that Hamish will need a liver transplant.
“I was crying my eyes out behind those sunglasses. It was amazing to see his dream come true,” says Haley.
“We saw his smile again.” Haley wants to place the badge somewhere special but Hamish won’t part with it, wearing the lanyard securely around his neck as he tries to instil law and order in his own home.
“He’s tried to use the badge to get out of bedtime so I said, ‘You may be the officer, but I’m still the minister,’” Haley laughs.
“The police said they’ve got some fun activities planned for him like mock arrests and have told him he must take his special badge with him when he visits our local station.”
Haley pauses when asked if she’d like him to serve in the police force when he’s older.
“I’ll just be happy if he lives long enough because there’s no cure for this,” she says.
“We’re trying to fulfil his dreams and make the most out of every day so he can be a happy little kid.”
Follow Hamish’s journey on the Facebook page Hamishsfightdc.
‘I was crying... it was amazing to see his dream come true’