GPD officers make 4-year-old’s day
Greencastle City Police officers went out of their way to make a little boy’s day.
Rhyme and reason in play, five city officers visited the East Side home of little Gage Nauman and his parents, Amanda Hawkins and Ryan Nauman, last Friday, taking community policing an extra mile and making a little boy smile.
And because of that, not too many four-year-olds have had the kind of start to 2017 that Gage has experienced.
First, Santa brought him a battery-powered Power Wheel Police Tahoe for Christmas that he can drive around playing cops-and-robbers, as well as a stuffed animal version of Chase, the German Shepherd police officer from the popular animated TV series ”Paw Patrol.”
The ball got rolling when his mother sent a picture of Gage and his police car and stuffed K9 partner to GPD via Facebook, Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins said.
“He wants to become a police officer and K9 handler,” Hopkins said, explaining that’s when GPD officers got the idea to visit Gage and see his new car.
So last Friday, Assistant Chief Hopkins was joined by Det. Michael Collins, Officer Nick Eastham, Officer Alec Pettit and Officer and K9 handler Kyle Lee with K9 partner Cain in visiting Gage at his 1116 Avenue D residence.
“He loved it,” mom Amanda Hawkins said. “He was so surprised. He watched them pull up out front and got all excited. He was a little bashful when they started walking up to him and talking to him.”
Gage was especially happy to see Officer Lee and his K9 partner.
“He just loves Kyle Lee,” his mother offered. “He’s his favorite cop.”
And that hero worship has intensified since Lee partnered with his dog Cain.
“Gage says he wants to be Kyle Lee,” Amanda added. “He walks around the house going, ‘I’m Kyle Lee, I’m going to arrest you.’ He even makes his dad put his hands behind his back and all.”
She said she originally thought about reaching out to the police to see if they could deliver Gage’s car for Christmas but the time got away from her and soon it was too late to deviate from a Santa delivery.
But the recent visit proved even better.
“That was so special,” she said. “I think they’re really good cops. They didn’t have to take time from their day to do that. And then five officers come out, along with the K9 officer.”
The GPD group stayed about 20 minutes and left Gage with some Greencastle Police Junior Patrol sticker badges. They now adorn his car, which he’s not supposed to drive inside but he still does as much as he can get away with, Amanda said.
As the officers left, they flipped on their lights and sirens. They had already flipped on Gage’s heart.
“It was perfect,” mother Amanda said. “It was amazing that they actually took their time to come see him. It made him so happy. They made his day. He talks about it all the time now.
“With all the negative things you hear everywhere, it was wonderful to see something positive, and I’m sure it was good for them, too.”