Jayvon Felton, the 9-year-old who was Detroit’s police chief for a day back in January, on Monday succumbed to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, according to the Detroit Free Press.
On Jan. 31, Jayvon was named honorary police chief for the day, complete with a helicopter trip to the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, where he took the oath of office.
"I can only imagine the strength and courage it takes for this young man, police chief, to fight this illness every day," Chief James Craig said at the time, according to the Free Press. The boy was even reunited with his classmates, whom he had not seen in months, at the ceremony.
According to the Free Press, the department sent out a statement Tuesday, sending condolences to Jayvon’s mother, and detailing how the boy's life impacted them.
"It was obvious that day how special Jayvon was. It was not just his courage that was noticeable; it was his charming smile and his caring personality. The way he looked at everything with this wide-eye wonderment. In the short time that we knew Jayvon, he touched everyone in the department, leaving a lasting impression that will not be forgotten. He will be missed by many, his family, his classmates, and his DPD family," the statement read. "We can only pray that when our time comes, we have touched as many lives as Jayvon. To his mother Amanda, we say, thank you for sharing your marvelous son with us. Know that the world is a better place because he was in it."
Read more at the Detroit Free Press.