Police Parade for 4-Year-Old With Autism

A group of SDPD officers helped give a 4-year-old boy with autism “the best day of his life so far”

Wednesday, Oct 8, 2014 • Updated at 5:18 PM PDT

Lots of little boys like police officers, but probably not as much as Xander Sanchez does.

In fact, the 4-year-old wears a police uniform and badge every day, according to his aunt Ana Villegas.

“He’s always the good guy. He never wants to be the bad guy,” Villegas said.

A few weeks ago, Xander approached an off-duty police officer in his Otay Mesa neighborhood and asked for a sticker. Sgt. Lem Siansonoy didn’t have any stickers, but took the boy’s address and promised to bring him a bag of goodies.

Sgt. Siansonoy made a surprise stop at Xander’s house on Oct. 1. Sure enough, Xander was wearing his police uniform and even had his miniature police motorcycle parked in the front yard.

The officer invited Xander to ride his mini motorcycle to the San Diego Police Department Southern Division, located just a few blocks from his home.

His aunt said she couldn’t believe what happened next.

“As we’re riding over, we look outside. There is like 25 police officers waiting outside,” Villegas said.

“Next thing we know, we see the motorcycle cops ride in with lights and sirens,” she said.

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The SDPD officers lined up to take pictures with “Officer Sanchez.” Besides touring the police station, Xander got to sit on an actual police motorcycle and hold the radar gun.

He’s always the good guy. He never wants to be the bad guy.Ana Villegas, Xander's aunt

But these officers did more than make a little boy’s day. Xander was diagnosed with autism at age 3 and has had problems with communication, Villegas said. Currently, he receives in-home speech therapy three days a week.

Villegas said the police station visit was "the best day of his life so far” and that he can’t stop talking about it, even telling strangers about his experience.

“I don’t think they understand how much good they did for him,” she said.

The officers gave Xander a notepad to write tickets. Villegas said he’s constantly writing tickets for family members, for violations ranging from parking in grandma’s driveway to playing music too loud.

Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Police-Parade-for-4-Year-Old-With-Autism-278586181.html#ixzz3G29XgBPX