On Friday, May 28, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) held a very special induction ceremony in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens for the newest member of their police family, Special Junior Constable (SJC) Hayden Price.
Last year just before Hayden’s 8th birthday, he was diagnosed with a rare subtype of melanoma, which is only 1 per cent of melanomas and are not caused by exposure to the sun.
The QPS became aware of Hayden’s story just prior to him and his family returning back to Brisbane from Singapore for Hayden to undergo treatment for his melanoma.
The QPS decided to do something special for this brave little hero and his family on their discharge from their COVID-19 hotel quarantine.
On the morning of May 28, Hayden and his family were met at the front entrance of their hotel by members of the QPS welcoming party.
Hayden was informed that he was just going for a ride around the city in the QPS Wolverine ATV (totally unaware of what awaited him at the Botanic Gardens).
Hayden was driven down to the Botanic gardens in the ATV under the escort of a police motorcycle with his family riding directly behind in a marked police car.
On arrival, Hayden was met by Senior Constable Clancy the Koala and Assistant Commissioner Brian Swan who warmly welcomed and inducted Hayden into the Service.
Assistant Commissioner Swan then presented Hayden with his Certificate of Appointment, signed by Commissioner Katarina Carroll along with his Special Junior Constable Police Badge and ID wallet all while the QPS Police Pipes and Drums band played for him.
For the following two hours, SJC Hayden was introduced to an array of different specialist units including the Mounted Unit, Public Safety Response Team, Scenes of Crime, Explosive Detection Dog Team, Road Policing, Brisbane City Bike Squad, General Duties, and the Water Police.
It was quite evident that the highlight of the day for Hayden and his family was being taken on a Brisbane River tour in the water police vessels.
Assistant Commissioner Swan initiated the special event for Hayden.
“Today is a very special day as we get to induct the newest member of the Queensland Police Service, young Hayden Price into our organisation, into our family,” Acting Commissioner Swan said.
“We get to be part of something special today, so it’s a great day.”
During the induction ceremony, Assistant Commissioner Swan presented Hayden with his Certificate of Appointment and welcomed him to the police family.
“It means a lot that we can share your welcome home and that you can become part of our police family,” he said.
“We have a Certificate of Appointment as a Special Junior Constable signed by the Commissioner Katarina Carroll.
He further asked if Hayden knew what it mean to become a Special Junior Constable.
“It means that we get up and we serve our community and it means that we do that with honour and keep them from harm.
“We take it really seriously, so we swear an oath and the Commissioner appoints us as a member of the Queensland Police Service.
“So good on you mate, here is your Certificate of appointment, Junior Special Constable Hayden Price.”
The Queensland Police Service are so honoured and privileged to welcome our new little brother and his family into our family.
The Price family have asked us to highlight the importance of melanoma research, in case the public would like to contribute to this lifesaving research.
Donations can be made to the Melanoma Institute of Australia at: https://www.melanoma.org.au/
Hayden arriving at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens SJC Price receiving his Certificate of Appointment from AC Swan
Price family with S/C Clancy SJC Price receiving his Certificate of Appointment SJC Price with a member of the PSRT SJC Price on Police Horse Geronimo A very proud A/SGT Paul Bagnall with his new team mate SJC Hayden Price
SJC Price trying out a RPU motorcycle for size Getting ready for the river cruise on QPSV CASEY BLAIN
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