Boy, 7, Battling Cancer Officer For A Day In Texas: See Photos

BELLAIRE, TX — Max Boatright has always wanted to be a cop so he can arrest bad people like Batman’s nemesis, the Joker. The 7-year-old who is battling cancer got his wish Tuesday when he was sworn in as the Bellaire Police Department’s youngest officer.

He took part in roll call and even got to help police in a traffic stop. No, it wasn’t one of the evil-doers from the “Batman” franchise, and Officer Max let the speeder off with a warning. But it was a big day for the boy, who was diagnosed in March 2017 with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and recently underwent a bone marrow transplant.

It’s a dreadful disease that starts in the bone marrow, moves into the bloodstream and spreads to other parts of the body. Everyone who knows young Max says he has handled it all with bravery and resilience.

And his day on the Bellaire police force was the “best day ever,” according to the Team SuperMax Facebook page created by his family.

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“I'm going to be a police officer,” Max told television station KTRK. “I wanted to be one, and they invited me.”

When KTRK reporter Steve Champion, who followed Max during his day on the job, asked him why he wanted to be a police officer, Max charmed.

“Because I get to catch bad guys like the Joker,” he said, adding, “and the Penguin.”

Max’s father, Trey Boatright, said his son “loves police,” along with “Batman, superheroes and firemen.”

Max’s big day was coordinated by Stuff the Sleigh, which partners with Texas Children’s Hospital to provide multiple avenues of giving for pediatric cancer patients and their families.

The organization wrote on Facebook that the “amazing team” at the city of Bellaire and the Bellaire Police Officer's Association not only made Max’s dream come true, but also is donating #NoShaveNovember proceeds to Stuff the Sleigh.

Stuff the Sleigh said that through Dec. 15, all donations to the charity will be matched. “So please consider donating to double the impact — and give more kids like Max a reason to smile!” the organization wrote.

Also, the Bellaire Police Officers Association and the Bellaire Parks and Recreation are hosting a toy drive for Stuff the Sleigh on Nov. 29 at Holiday in the Park.

Here’s more from Max’s big day from Team SuperMax:

And here's more from the Bellaire Police Officer's Association:

Photo: Scott McDonald/Patch