Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – For SWAT officers, a typical day at the office usually involves high-stress training and worst-case scenarios.

But recently, the Paragould Police Department and Greene County Sheriff’s Office traded their usual intense operations for a different kind of mission: granting a wish.

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Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a boy named Kayden Higgs was sworn in on March 31 as the newest member of the Paragould SWAT team. He spent the day getting a behind-the-scenes look at the vehicles, tactical gear, and training that keep the community safe.

While the day was designed to bring joy to Higgs, local law enforcement leaders said the young man did just as much for the officers.

Jumping into the Action

Paragould Police Captain Blake Williams, who helps lead the department’s SWAT team, said Higgs’ arrival set a positive tone right out of the gate.

After Kendra Street, a Make-a-Wish volunteer and Marmaduke teacher, explained the day’s events, Higgs wasted no time jumping into action.

“He immediately just took off, tearing into the building just as fast as he could run,” Williams said. “He was just super excited and just really eager.”

Higgs was fitted with his own tactical vest and helmet, and even got to practice room clearing with the team. But for Williams, a standout moment involved a simple piece of equipment: The police radio. The team set Higgs up in a patrol unit, cut the lights, and tuned the radio so they could communicate directly.

“I went into the building and said, ‘This is Captain Williams calling Officer Kayden. We need you to come help with SWAT and come help save the day,” Williams recalled, adding that Higgs was thrilled to respond to the call.

Boots on the Ground

Greene County SWAT Commander Lt. Rockie Weber, who also oversaw the team’s interactions with Higgs, noted that it didn’t take long for the young man to become one of the guys.

Weber added a personal touch to the day by gifting Higgs a special photo set. The photos were pencil drawings of tactical operations by renowned artist Dick Kramer, which had been given to Weber by a former Paragould SWAT member.

“I thought he would probably get a lot of joy out of having those hanging in his room,” Weber said.

Tactical units rely on a tight-knit culture and camaraderie. According to Lt. Weber, Higgs’ positive attitude made him a natural fit for the unit.

“He’s facing some hard circumstances, and that’s kind of the reason he clicks so well with us. That’s what we do by nature, is we go into hard circumstances and have to push through it. And that’s exactly what this kid’s doing, and he’s doing it with a big old smile on his face and a lot of grace,” Weber said.

A Shift in Perspective

Watching the officers interact with the newest recruit offered a lighthearted moment for teams trained to handle often dangerous situations. For Weber, seeing Higgs’ determination serves as a morale boost and a lesson for the squad.

“His family’s facing these problems and these issues, and seeing him face it like he does, it just reminds us that no matter what we’re doing, we got to push through,” Weber said. “Seeing a 12-year-old kid doing that, that kind of gives us [the idea] that we can do it. We can face whatever and look [at] what he’s facing and look out positively.”

The impact of Higgs’ visit extended beyond just the SWAT teams, sending a wave of positivity through the broader departments. Williams noted that Higgs’ energy lifted everyone involved. Officers from across Northeast Arkansas even pitched in to build Higgs a custom board filled with SWAT patches and challenge coins.

“Just seeing the elation on his face and just how excited he was. His excitement was really contagious with everybody,” Williams said.

For Williams, events like these are a reminder of why officers put on the badge.

“Hopefully, it humanizes police officers a little bit more,” Williams said. “It lets people know that we’re out here, that we do care, and we’re out here to help and participate with the community.”

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