Gage Childs dreams of becoming a police officer one day.
The 5-year-old rides around his family’s home in a Little Tikes police cruiser fashioned with roof lights, reflective tape, a Sheriff’s star and a siren. At his side is his partner on patrol, a stuffed animal K-9 officer. He insists on putting on his police costume every day, complete with a badge and duty belt.
And as he celebrated his 5th birthday recently, he got a special surprise from many of the very officers he so looks up to.
Several patrol deputies and K-9 officer Charley made a surprise visit during Childs’ birthday party at Coffee & Norco.
“He kept saying ‘this is the best birthday ever!’” said Gage’s mother Crystal. “His jaw dropped when he walked in, seeing the police decorations everywhere. And when the officers came in, he turned around and he just had the biggest smile on his face. He was the happiest kid … my heart was full, seeing that.”
Childs let his parents know that he wanted to have a police-themed birthday party. Crystal made a few calls, including one to Coffee & Norco to inquire about having the party there.
“I was thinking where we could do all of this, and cops like donuts so what about the donut shop?” Crystal said. “I talked to the owner about the party and she was OK with it. And when I told her the theme, she told me OK, she would put the word out and see if maybe they can pop up.”
After the date of the party was nailed down, Childs’ parents told Officer Raeven Cojoe, who patrols their neighborhood, about it.
“She said absolutely, she’d do everything in her power to be there,” said Crystal.
Cojoe was the first officer to enter and greet Childs for his birthday and gave him a goodie bag. Then a group of officers walked in to add to the surprise. 
“We did not know that the large group of officers were going to come with the canine – that was a surprise even to us,” said Crystal. “For Gage, that was about the best thing ever.”
Childs’ interest in the police began from his interactions with St. Charles Parish Lt. Roanne Sampson, who is the resource officer at Norco Elementary School where Childs just finished his first year.
“She sits down and has lunch with them, and she goes out and plays during recess with them. So, the more he was around her, the more he started being all into police,” Crystal said.
“Right around Christmas … he wasn’t that big into it, and then suddenly he wakes up every day and has to put on his police costume, his belt, his badge, his everything. Every day, he has to have it.”
