When Sammy Scully was diagnosed with a brain tumour it was believed he would live another 12 to 18 months and not achieve his dreams.
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But the eight-year-old has made his dream of being a cop, at least for the day, a reality.
Organised by radio Mix102.3's Max and Ali in the morning, Sammy was given the opportunity to be a cop for a day on May 14 at Rundle Mall in Adelaide.
Dubbed Sergeant Sammy, he was tasked with hunting down celebrities, singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian, AFL Crows' player Reilly O'Brien and cricketer Alex Carey.
The eight-year-old has always dreamed of becoming a police officer and so South Australia police commissioner Grant Stevens gave him the honorary title of senior sergeant.
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas joined the special day and gave a stop work order between 12.30pm and 1.30pm for all South Australians to come and support Sammy's mission.
'He's my warrior'
Sammy was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in 2023 after his mother Alison Harrison noticed his balance was unsteady and he was slurring his speech following a fall.
He has completed four weeks of radiation therapy but his last scan shows he has nine months left to live.
Ms Harrison said she was grateful for the support from the local community.
"I can't believe the outpouring of support from the people of Adelaide...You have moved mountains for my little boy, and I can't thank you enough," Ms Harrison said.
"[Sam] is an absolute rocket that doesn't stop. Even though he's got a brain tumour, it still hasn't changed his outlook on life... He knows I'm in awe of him, he knows that he's my warrior. I have so much respect for him," she said.
Jessica Belzycki
Journalist at the Newcastle Herald.
Journalist at the Newcastle Herald.
