PITTSBURGH — Police officers from across western Pennsylvania drove past UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Tuesday morning as 8-year-old Joshua Eastman looked on from the ninth floor.
“We want to thank them for taking time to make Joshua’s day,” said Joshua’s dad, Jason Eastman.
Joshua is battling leukemia.
PHOTOS: Officers deliver police patches to boy battling leukemia at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital
The young boy is from Kane Borough, about three hours away.
Officer Derrick Snyder, who first met Joshua in November, made the trip from Kane to join representatives from more than 60 agencies, including Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Pennsylvania State Police.
“I’ve been in contact with him pretty much every couple of days -- him or his mom -- so I’m glad to see such a huge turnout for this event,” said Snyder.
The officers paraded past the hospital, led by Joshua’s dad and three siblings in a SWAT vehicle. They then dropped off a special delivery for Joshua -- more than 100 police patches to add to his growing collection.
SUPPORTING JOSHUA: 8-year-old Joshua Eastman is battling cancer at UPMC Children’s. He collects police patches and wants to be an officer one day. Today more than 60 PA police depts paraded by his window and delivered more than 100 patches. I’ll have this story tonight on @WPXI pic.twitter.com/b7DfdMUT2P
— Pete DeLuca WPXI (@PeteDeLucaTV) February 1, 2022
Joshua has more than 1,000 patches from departments as far away as Australia. He collects the patches because he wants to be an officer one day.
“He’s always looked up to police officers,” his dad said.
Community Relations Officer Joe Risher, with Allegheny County Police, helped organize the event in honor of Joshua.
He shared this message: “Keep up the good fight, know that we’re behind you, and when you graduate from the police academy, write us a letter.”
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