TUNKHANNOCK, Pa. -- State and local police from all over our area hosted a fundraiser in Wyoming County on Sunday for an honorary junior trooper, Josh Bourassa from New Milford.
With a salute to the guest of honor, police welcomed 14-year-old Josh Bourassa to his party.
"He had the biggest smile on his face, and I know we're not going to admit it, but all of us had a smile on our face, too," said Trooper Jeffrey Grimes, Pennsylvania State Police.
The event, called "Cops Cook for Trooper Josh," was a benefit for the boy that the Pennsylvania State Police dubbed an honorary trooper earlier this year.
Josh was born Krabbe's leukodystrophy, a condition that affects his nervous system.
"I am very grateful. It's a blessing. Josh has always loved the police officers and then to see the police officers do this for Josh, it's pretty nice," said Rebecca Bourassa, Josh's mom.
"This is just an incredible benefit for Joshua, aspirations of being a state trooper, obviously with his condition, he's not able to, so it provides us the ability to show him what it's all about. We're also serving the food and everything like that, so it's a neat experience for him," Grimes said.
Police officers and their families from across three counties served up the food at Triton Hose Company in Tunkhannock. The event was meant to offset some of Josh's medical costs, but Josh's mom says the police have given him so much more.
"It helps us out a great deal, not only just for friendship wise, but to help Josh with his confidence, and help him fight this, and help us when we're down in Pittsburgh and he's having his surgeries," said Bourassa.
Josh's trooper title is honorary, but the troopers and police officers here prove that they'll protect him just as they would one of their own.
"The family of cops here, the thin blue line, we all are a huge family. It's true what they say, and I love it," said the wife of a Tunkhannock Township police officer.