WATCH: Lakewood Police Bring Birthday Surprise To Toms River Boy With Autism

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Christopher Layton is like most 6-year-old boys. He loves big trucks and cars. He loves to swim. And he loves police officers.

The Toms River boy, who has autism, has been fascinated by the police since last year, his mother, Kristen said. So much so that when Halloween costumes hit the store racks late last summer, she bought him a SWAT uniform.

"He wears it often," she said. "He even had his Santa picture taken in his SWAT uniform."

When she was planning Christopher's sixth birthday party, it was only natural that it would have police theme. What Kristen didn't imagine was the surprise his babysitter, Deanna Garofalo, had in store for the boy: Garofalo had arranged for Lakewood police to attend the boy's birthday party at SkyZone, the trampoline park in Lakewood.

"I was amazed that she did this for him and thrilled with the idea since the party was a cop theme," Kristen said. Garofalo told her the SWAT team would be coming, as she had told Lakewood police about Christopher's SWAT uniform.

But it wasn't just a handful of officers. The day of the party, Kristen got a phone call from Lakewood police saying quite a few had volunteered.

"I was hoping that it meant maybe five officers," she said, "and thinking to myself '10 would be awesome.' "

"When I walked out to the lobby of Sky Zone and saw all the men and women there for my son I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness," Kristen said. "I teared up as soon the look on my son's face that I will never forget. "

The members of the department signed a birthday card for Christopher and presented the boy with his own Lakewood Police Department T-shirt and hat, complete with a pin honoring fallen Patrolman Christopher Matlosz.

They brought the department's SWAT vehicle and allowed Christopher to explore, and then stayed while he blew out the candles on his birthday cake.

"We are still amazed by the visit from Lakewood PD and SWAT team," she said.

Check out the video of the SWAT team at Christopher's party, shared with permission of The Lakewood Scoop:

Photos courtesy of Kristen Layton