"Promposal" Not A Bust: Boyfriend Has Cops Pull Over His Girl So He Could Ask Her To Prom

PERRIS, CA — A Riverside County Sheriff's Department assisted "promposal" gave this Perris teen jolt of adrenaline. This week, Perris Station Explorer Lieutenant Cain Gonzalez asked for some help making his prom proposal special, according to RivCo Sheriff information officer Brandi Swan.

"It is not every day that we can do something exciting and bring a smile to someone’s face, so we will take every opportunity we can get to make that happen," Swan told Patch. "It feels good to be a part of something bigger and we are honored to share in their lifelong memory of prom."

Gonzales has a special relationship with the officers at the Perris station, according to Swan.

As an "Explorer" and Springs Charter High School student, Gonzales is learning about being a deputy, Gonzales trains regularly at the Perris Station and has made some friends there, she says. Asking for their help with the startling proposal was natural.

"Cain had a plan and the deputies were happy to oblige," she said. He would hide in the backseat of the squad car while the deputies pulled over his girlfriend, Esther Aguilar, for a “fake violation.”

They put the plan into action over the weekend. When the time was right, the squad car lights flashed, and siren whooped and she pulled over as officers directed.

After telling her their pseudo-reason for stopping her (speeding), she asked if she could get her purse out of the backseat.

"It was perfect," Swan said. "When [Esther] had to exit the car, Cain an opportunity to jump out of the patrol car with flowers, balloons, and a sign which read:

"Don't Worry! The ticket I'm giving you isn't for SPEEDING. Will you be my date to PROM?"

Of course, she said "Yes."

On Facebook, residents were largely supportive of the department's efforts to help the teenager with his over-the-top proposal.

Lisa Saling writes "This is great! It will make Prom even more special and memorable. Need more creative goodness like this."

Others commented that it was a questionable use of department resources. Still, the majority congratulated the officers for helping a young man with his creative proposal.

The department loved helping him blend his law enforcement passion and his enthusiasm for his girlfriend, Swan told Patch. "It was a mix of both good things in his life and it came out perfect."

The deputies were more than happy to help a fellow “brother.”

Deputy Carri Carrico described the event as totally positive.

“My team and I always try to make contact with all the kids we see and leave them with a positive perspective of law enforcement," Carrico said. "The contacts can be as simple as waving, passing out stickers, talking to them, or getting creative with a promposal."

For Carrico, it's important to put in that extra effort to stop and talk with teens in our area. "There is such a bad light on law enforcement and we are able to show the kids what policing is really about."