DETROIT, MI -- Jayvon Felton hasn't been able to go to school since April.

He's had trouble just feeling like a regular kid lately.

And he had to undergo a chemotherapy treatment Thursday.

But Friday was different.

On Friday, a group of police officers picked him up at his southwest Detroit home for what he thought would be a simple, educational visit to the police department.

They drove the 9-year-old around the city, showing him how the lights and sirens work in a squad car, then headed to the city airport, where he got a close-up look at a police helicopter.

That's when things escalated. Let's go for a ride, they told him.

Jayvon's reaction was wide-eyed, but quiet, said Detroit Police Sgt. Todd Svenkesen, who piloted the state police helicopter.

"He was a little reserved, but he loved the ride," said Svenkesen.

They flew over Downtown Detroit, Belle Isle, Historic Ft. Wayne and police headquarters before landing in front of a throng of reporters, working his way through a crowd of shouting supporters and being swept away for his swearing-in ceremony to become chief for the day.

"He thought it was just going to be a visit," said Detroit Police Sgt. Michael Woody. "He didn't know it was going to be this big... He was just totally surprised."

Jayvon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia last year when his parents took him to the hospital for what they thought was a stomach virus.

His mother Amanda Clinkscales said the family hopes he'll be able to recover and return to school soon after having to stay home for nearly a year.

"He just wants to be a regular boy again," she said.

Detroit police worked with Children's Hospital and a number of nonprofit and corporate sponsors to give Jayvon a day in which he was not just a regular boy, but chief of police.

After landing in the parking lot of Detroit Police Headquarters where a clamoring crowd, a set of armored vehicles and a group of mascots were waiting for him, Jayvon was led into the building, where a group of his Roberto Clemente Academy classmates welcomed him with signs saying they've missed him.

Led by the Detroit Tigers mascot Paws, Jayvon and his uniformed entourage made his way through hallways lined with supporters shouting "Chief! Chief!"

Jayvon, through it all, had a bewildered, grateful smile on his face.

"Thank you all for coming," he told the crowd. "... It feels great."

Detroit's permanent Police Chief James Craig called Friday his best day since taking over the department last year.

"This is a testament to Detroit police officers always willing to give back," Craig said after conducting Jayvon's swearing in ceremony.

"I got more out of this than my own (swearing in)."

After being sworn in, Jayvon went to spend time with Craig, his executive staff and a bomb disposal robot with later plans for a pizza party with his classmates and a meeting with the mayor.

































Follow MLive Detroit reporter Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Detroit Khalil. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.