By Joanna Putman
Police1
NEW YORK — A 10-year-old boy who aspired to be a police officer before being killed in the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, was posthumously made an honorary NYPD officer in a special ceremony, the New York Post reported.
The ceremony, held at 1 Police Plaza, honored Jose Flores Jr., who was among the 19 children killed in the May 24, 2022, shooting, according to the report.
Interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon presented the Flores family with a badge of honor during the emotional event.
“It feels good what they’re doing for my baby, honoring him,” said Jose Flores Sr., the boy’s father. “His dream was becoming an officer and now he is.”
The Flores family, including Jose’s younger brothers Jayden, 8, and Jayce, 2, who were also given honorary badges, received an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City courtesy of Blue Lives Matter NYC. The organization learned about the family’s story from Texas law enforcement, according to the report.
During the trip, the family visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Times Square before attending the ceremony. Donlon described the event as an “extremely important and emotional very happy day.”