SUGARCREEK, Pa. (EYT) – An area man with cancer was sworn in as an honorary police officer in a heartwarming ceremony in Sugarcreek Borough on Tuesday morning.

Thirty-year-old Matthew (Matt) Minich, of Reynoldsville, Pa., was sworn in as an honorary member of the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, with Magisterial Judge Patrick Lowrey presiding, as members of local police departments and Matt’s family and friends attended the ceremony.

To pursue a career in law enforcement, was one of Matt’s main goals; however, he was diagnosed with cancer, and those plans were put on the back burner.

“Being an officer is something that I always wanted to do. I want to serve the people and to help protect the people and do what I can to help,” explained Matt.

Over the past few weeks, Matt’s health began to rapidly fail.

Lieutenant Ryan Ashbaugh contacted Sugarcreek Borough Chief of Police, Matthew Carlson, and arraignments were quickly made with Mayor Jeff MacKenzie to bring one last wish to Matt and make him a police officer for a day.

The ceremony was held in the council room of the Sugarcreek Borough building. Matt was surrounded by his family and friends as well as members of the Pennsylvania State Police (Franklin Barracks, Corporal Lee Bunyak and Trooper Shawn Armagost); Venango County Sheriff’s Department (Sheriff Eric Foy); and the City of Franklin Police Department (Patrolmen A.J. Johnson and Bradley Barnhill).

Sugarcreek Borough Police Chief Matthew R. Carlson and Matt’s cousins, Sugarcreek Borough Lieutenant Ryan D. Ashbaugh and Kevin D. Ashbaugh, of Knox Ambulance Service, were also in attendance.

Matt’s mother Cheryl Minich and sister Natasha Thompson attended the ceremony with emotions of both sorrow and joy.

“Matt has always wanted to be a police officer. I am just happy that I can be here to share this moment with him,” commented Cheryl.

“He has been battling this for some time, and we thought things were going well, but he took a turn for the worst.”

Natasha expressed gratitude to the department for arranging this day for her brother.

“It is important to us that Matt had this opportunity. I just want to be here for him.”

After the swearing in ceremony, Matt had an opportunity to meet with the officers who attended the event as an expression of their support.

Chief Carlson spent some time with Matt to discuss his ordeal and offered him some words of encouragement, telling him that he was “glad to be able to make this day possible.”

“It was an honor to make this young man a police officer for the day and see one of his goals in life come true,” Chief Carlson commented.

Shortly after the ceremony, Matt went out patrolling the streets with his cousin, Lieutenant Ashbaugh.

Kevin Ashbaugh, an EMT for Knox Volunteer Ambulance Service as well as Clarion Hospital EMS, participated in the ride along as a precaution due to Matt’s condition.

“Right after the ceremony, we hit the streets, and Matt was serving the citizens of the borough. We only had one dispatch call for a disabled truck on Allegheny Blvd., but the rest of the time was spent stopping vehicles for violations and other standard patrol. The ride along ended at noon; however, Matt wanted to keep going, ignoring his own fatigue,” Lieutenant Ashbaugh told exploreVenango.com.

“It was great having Matt ride along with me. It was an honor to do, and it is something I will never forget.”

(Photos below: courtesy of Kevin Ashbaugh)

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Category: Community, Local News, News