(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, Theodis Daniel, DJ Daniel and Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board celebrate swearing DJ into the Parkersburg Police Department Friday afternoon in City Park.

PARKERSBURG — Thirteen-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel was sworn in as an honorary member of the Parkersburg Police Department on Friday at City Park’s Bandshell, during a ceremony attended by uniformed officers from across West Virginia and community members.

The event opened with remarks from Mayor Tom Joyce, who told Daniel that Parkersburg is “overwhelmingly supportive of law enforcement,” adding, “As recently as this week, our city council demonstrated its again unwavering support for law enforcement… I want to say a special thanks to my police department, my chief… and my good friend… Mayor Scott James from St. Albans,” before thanking officers “for what you do every day.”

Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board said meeting Daniel confirmed what many had already seen in media reports.

“The kind heart is not fake. It’s real,” Board said. “He is the embodiment of not only law enforcement but West Virginia. We are so proud to be here at the event where he’s sworn in for the first time in the state of West Virginia.”

Board also noted attendance from agencies across the state, including state police, sheriff’s offices and municipal departments.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, Devaryjaye “DJ” Daniel shares a laugh with West Virginia State Trooper Colonel Jim Mitchell while he is sworn into the state troopers on Friday afternoon.

Del. Scott Heckert, R-Wood, presented a legislative citation from the House of Delegates recognizing Daniel’s “bravery and determination.”

“DJ has been recognized and made an honorary officer by over 1,400 police departments and other law enforcement organizations across the United States,” Heckert said. “His actions have helped bring awareness to childhood cancer and inspire hopes in families all across the nation.”

Daniel then took an oath with Parkersburg Police. A proclamation from Gov. Patrick Morrisey was read aloud declaring Daniel an “honorary West Virginian,” praising his “extraordinary bravery, positivity and perseverance,” and saying he “has inspired countless people with his unwavering faith, his contagious smile, (and) his dedication to honoring the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers and first responders.”

The West Virginia State Police administered an oath recognizing Daniel as a member of the West Virginia State Police and presented him with a uniform. Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard also swore him in as an honorary deputy sheriff.

Fraternal Order of Police President Ryan Black recognized Daniel and inducted him as an Honorary Member of the Fraternal Order of Police Blennerhassett Lodge #79. Additional law enforcement representatives inducted Daniel including Wirt, Randolph, Marshall and Gilmer counties.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, DJ and Theodis Daniel listen as Mike Hugo discusses clinical trials for cancer patients Friday afternoon at the band shell.

During the ceremony, Daniel kept the tone light by cracking jokes with the different departments and the audience. When Woodyard asked if he accepted the duties of a deputy, Daniel replied, “What is the payroll looking like?”

Theodis Daniel, DJ’s father, thanked West Virginians for the welcome and described the family’s efforts to raise money for childhood cancer causes. He said that at a recent concert, they raised “about $205,000 and we donated all to a cancer foundation.”

Mike Hugo, Daniel’s family friend and fellow cancer patient, spoke about access to clinical trials, saying he and Daniel hoped for support for patients following clinical trials.

“After phase two of the clinical studies are done, we ask for… dollars to actually go directly to patients,” adding that such a plan could accelerate “15 to 40 years of cancer innovation.”