A 5-year-old Connecticut boy had dreamed of being a police officer when he grew up, but he died unexpectedly before it could become a reality.
In the wake of his death, the Rocky Hill Police Department named Mateo Sanchez an honorary officer. The little boy died suddenly in June of 2023.
He'd happily wave to any officers he came across and made his intention of becoming an officer clear from the get-go.
Rocky Hill Police Chief Brian Klett said he had "no doubt [Sanchez] would have lived up to the department's mission statement," making the town a better place to live, visit, raise a family and conduct business.
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"He wanted to go out and grab the bad guys from what his mother told us and, you know, that struck a lot of us here. It was a huge reminder that we're able to come out every day and live out our dreams, help those that need help every day and protect the innocent," Sergeant Jeffrey Foss-Rugan said.
The 5-year-old has been assigned badge number 101, which signifies being second in command to the police chief.
"The chief here in Rocky Hill is number 100 and the importance of 101 is that it's second in command. And that number is now retired. It will never be used again in Rocky Hill Police Department history," Foss-Rugan said.
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The number now solely belongs to Sanchez. And while many of the officers on the force never got to meet Sanchez, he's made a huge impact on their lives.
"We have some bad days in law enforcement and when I'm having one of those bad days, I look at his picture. Many of our officers carry his picture with them, in our offices or in our cruisers, and it keeps us going," Foss-Rugan said.
The police chief said Sanchez "encompassed the core values of courtesy, professionalism and respect in his short time as a resident of Rocky Hill," and he was always kind of others.
He had just recently graduated from Deer Run Preschool, where police say he was known for his affectionate smile and much-needed hugs.
"The men and women of the Rocky Hill Police Department only ask Officer Mateo Sanchez to keep a watchful eye over them as they protect and serve the great residents and visitors of Rocky Hill," Klett said.
Officers hope that honoring Sanchez the way he deserves will bring some peace to his family.
"[The family] was taken aback. They're a wonderful family and they're appreciative. They can go to bed every night and look at his uniform and know that he is one of us," Foss-Rugan said.
