That's Deputy Landon, folks
(LOREN BENOIT/Hagadone News Network) Madison Hill holds her 3-year-old son, Landon, as he looks at the inside of a Kootenai County Sheriff cruiser Wednesday afternoon. Landon, who has been fighting cancer since the age of 2, received a plaque and a honorary deputy badge as well as being made honorary deputy of the department.
LOREN BENOIT/PressMadison Hill holds her 3-year-old son, Landon, as he shakes the hand of Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger Wednesday afternoon. Landon, who has been fighting cancer since the age of 2, received a plaque and a honorary deputy badge as well as being made honorary deputy of the department.
LOREN BENOIT/PressLandon Hill, 3, holds his honorary deputy badge while in the arms of his father, Dylan Hill, Wednesday afternoon at the Kootenai County Sheriff's Station.
LOREN BENOIT/PressDylan Hill holds his 3-year-old son, Landon, as they look at Kootenai County Sheriff cruisers lights change colors Wednesday afternoon.
By RYAN COLLINGWOOD
Hagadone News Network
COEUR d'ALENE — Landon Hill raised his tiny right hand Wednesday as Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger swore in the 3-year-old as an honorary deputy.
Landon spent the last three months fighting cancer at Seattle Children's Hospital and was too shy to repeat the sheriff's oath.
"I promise to obey my parents, follow the rules and wear my seat belt," said Wolfinger, before handing the bald little boy an assortment of cop-themed goodies, including an honorary badge.
A $1,500 donation the Kootenai County Deputy Sheriff's Association presented to the Hill family — including parents Dylan and Madison Hill of Coeur d'Alene — was the topper.
Sheriff’s deputies, using funds from their recent No Shave November charity campaign, helped offset expenses of Landon's stage 4 metastastic neuroblastoma treatment. Medical care covered by insurance has exceeded $1 million.
The Hills accepted the gifts in front of a host of sheriff’s office employees and local media at the sheriff's office, taken aback by the generosity.
"The fact (KCSO) even thought of us means so much," said Dylan Hill, Landon's father. "More importantly, they thought of him."
Landon, who returns to the Seattle hospital at the start of the new year, was given a KCSO hat and mug, a police Matchbox car, a framed honorary deputy certificate and a stuffed animal.
"Hey, short bald men can be the sheriff here," joked the follically challenged Wolfinger, who stands around 5-foot-7.
Naturally, the child's eyes lit up at the sight of the miniature police vehicle and when he was given a tour of the office's patrol cars.
They had Landon's attention more than when he recently met Seahawks star Richard Sherman in Seattle.
"All of his Matchbox cars are police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. We play with them on a daily basis," Dylan Hill said. "They're a big part of his life. We do it every day. He loves it. (The police) are definitely something he looks up to,"
Landon attended the same daycare as Wolfinger's grandson. The sheriff recently learned of the child's fight with cancer when dropping off his grandson.
Wolfinger swiftly relayed the information to Sgt. Jon Brandel, who helps run the Kootenai County Deputy Sheriff's Association, which put together Wednesday’s event.
"It was like the two things were meant to be together," Wolfinger said.
It's been a trying time for the Hill family since Landon was diagnosed in 2015, but the child's fight and the community’s support have helped bring light to the situation.
"You can be mad, cranky and upset, curse things and people, but you deal with the situation that you have and find ways to stay positive and be happy and look on the bright side, and you just keep moving along," Madison Hill said. "You can't go to the dark side, because you have to be there for him."