07 Sep Future recruit visits officers in #Colchester
Police fanatic James Copping met with officers from Colchester Local Policing Team to take a tour of Colchester Police Station and a trip in a police car on Tuesday, August 30, 2016.
Officers decided to invite the five-year-old to the station after hearing about his brave battle with brain tumours.
James, from Kelvedon, was diagnosed with a grade one tumour in September 2014. He underwent surgery to have it removed but sadly the tumour has returned.
The tumours have affected James’ appetite so he has had further surgery to have a feeding tube inserted into his stomach to make sure he gets all the nutrition he needs.
Photo: James Copping with Pc Esther Butcher and Pc Rob Edgar
Pc Rob Edgar arranged for James to meet his colleagues after his wife, a nurse, began chatting to Natalie on a Facebook support group.
James’ mum, Natalie Copping, said: “James is absolutely obsessed with police cars. He’s been through such a lot that we wanted to do something to cheer him up and I can’t thank Pc Edgar and his colleagues enough for inviting him along.”
James was given the chance to sit in an operational police car, learn how to use the lights and sirens and make his first arrest.
Pc Edgar said: “We set up a crime scene in the back yard so that James had the chance to find a suspect, make his first arrest and take him to custody to have his fingerprints taken.”
James also met with Colchester Chief Inspector Elliott Judge and Chief Superintendent Ewen Wilson before being presented with his own pretend warrant card and police hat to take home.
Natalie added: “James only takes the hat off to go to bed. He had a fantastic day and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made such an effort for him. I can’t thank them enough.”
James’ family are now awaiting a decision over the best way to treat his tumour but hope he will one day get to fulfil his dream of becoming a fully-fledged police constable.
Pc Edgar said: “We all feel very fortunate to have met James. His bravery is evidence of what a fantastic police officer he will make in the future.”
