Expand / Collapse search
☰
Freeze Warning
from FRI 12:00 AM MST until FRI 9:00 AM MST, Globe/Miami, Dripping Springs, Northwest Pinal County, Tonto Basin, Aguila Valley, Superior, San Carlos
6
Wind Advisory
until THU 8:00 PM MST, Parker Valley, Yuma County
Cold Weather Advisory
from FRI 12:00 AM MST until FRI 10:00 AM MST, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument
Freeze Warning
from THU 10:00 PM MST until FRI 10:00 AM MST, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Wind Advisory
until FRI 1:00 AM MST, Lake Havasu and Fort Mohave, Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Air Quality Alert
until THU 9:00 PM MST, Yuma County

Make-A-Wish Arizona, Mesa PD encouraging kids to stay hopeful while wishes are postponed

By
Published  June 7, 2020 8:38am MST
Community Cares
FOX 10 Phoenix

MESA, Ariz. - In 1980, a 7-year-old boy named Chris was diagnosed with leukemia.

Even at his young age, Chris knew he wanted to become a police officer, and this dream would inspire the start of Make-A-Wish Arizona.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, that dream inspired a Make-A-Wish volunteer to reach out to Valley officers to encourage other Wish Kids to keep dreaming.

The organization teamed up with Mesa police officers to offer a message of strength and hope.

"A lot of wishes have been postponed due to COVID-19, and so we are doing these messages of hope to encourage them to keep wishing - that their wishes are not postponed, but hope is not cancelled," said Make-A-Wish volunteer Chelsey McHale.

McHale reached out to officer Josh Gustafson, knowing he would step up to help the kids.

"I thought, 'What better way to show some community support than reach out to some of my squadmates?' " said Gustafson.

The officers and K9s made a video letting the kids know their wishes will come true.

"We had 8 officers, and our K9s who came out and helped us out with this video jumped on ... the opportunity as soon as they were asked to," said Gustafson. "They were all excited and looked forward to doing this."

-

To this day, Chris is the only civilian ever to be sworn in as an honorary DPS officer.

Make-A-Wish Arizona is granting about 10 to 20 wishes a month because of coronavirus restrictions. The organization wants to make sure kids are safe because many have compromised immune systems.

Donate here: www.arizona.wish.org