LOOGOOTEE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Loogootee Police Department has recently brought on a new honorary police officer from Loogootee Community Schools to join the force.
Tony Buckhoy was sworn in by Mayor Noel Harty on Tuesday morning in front of the student body and was given a permanent “forever badge” number of L30.
A student in the life skills class, Buckhoy has always wanted to be an officer. Captain Kelly Rayhill, the school’s resource officer, commented on the process of Buckhoy’s inclusion into the LPD.
“We started having an officer in the schools around four years ago and he (tony) is a student in the life skills room. And the first day I visited the room, Tony said he wanted to be a police officer,” Rayhill explained. “He was always intrigued with police work and it seemed like every time I went in to visit he would mention again about wanting to be a police officer. So I got with the life skills teacher, Alisha Bailey, and we just made it happen.”
While Buckhoy has physical limitations, the Loogootee Police Department along with several other community members supports Buckhoy’s dreams and his new role as an honorary police officer.
Capt. Rayhill explained the ceremony and the significance of Buckhoy’s new role for the LPD and the community.
“We did it in front of the student body today with the superintendent, and all the admin was there, and the police chief was there. And then the mayor swore him in. He will always be a part of our team and the police department and we will invite him to events that we participate in in the future. Dreams can be fulfilled.”
The Loogootee Police Department Facebook page later made a post summarizing Buckhoy’s new position.
