At 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 10-year-old Robbie Barrett reported to the Newark Police Department and suited up for his day of duty as an honorary police officer. His partner for the day was 12-year veteran K-9 officer, and his personal friend, Dan Weegar.
Robbie was born with severe kidney and bladder disease, for which he makes regular visits to Strong Memorial Hospital and has had countless surgeries. His father, Robert Barrett, Sr., said that the disease causes Robbie to get sick with infections every 10 to 15 days like clockwork.
Doctors didn’t expect Robbie to live past the age of 3.
It was nearly four years ago when Officer Weegar stumbled upon the Barrett household after responding to an incident next door and Robbie was eager to show Weegar his collection of police photos and memorabilia. Since then, the two of them have developed a unique bond.
“It just kind of formed from there, and I started doing the kidney walks with him,” Weegar said on Thursday. “I was working nights at the time, so I’d take my lunch break to be able to take him out trick-or-treating for a few blocks.
“He’s a special little boy in this community, who deserved the chance to fulfill his dream of being a police officer.”
Robbie said he decided that he wanted to be a police officer years ago because he “saw them pulling people over.”
On Tuesday evening, in front of a packed house at the Newark village board meeting, Village Justice Michael Miller administered the oath to Robbie, making him an honorary officer for the next day. Several Newark PD officers and NYS Troopers lined up along the side of the room to watch Robbie being sworn in.
Robbie stood proudly during the ceremony as he was presented with a Challenge Coin by his friend and new partner Weegar. Mayor Jonathan Taylor also presented him with a pin that all of the officers wear on their uniform. And for his service last week, when he reported to police that an elderly woman had fallen down outside, Newark PD Chief David Christler presented Robbie with a “Do the Right Thing” award.
“He came running over to the police department to report that someone had fallen and couldn’t get back up,” Christler explained. “We were able to get the police over there to take care of her and she’s fine.”
Robbie was joined at the ceremony by members of his family – including his father, Robert, his mother Becky, his 18-year-old sister Ekaterina, and his 5-year-old brother Landon. Following the ceremony, Robbie’s family met with reporters where they explained the financial struggle they’ve endured since Robbie’s diagnosis.
According to his father, they battle with their insurance provider on a weekly to daily basis to get Robbie’s medicine and catheter supplies, much of which they pay for out of pocket. He works construction and does whatever he can on the side to help offset the costs.
“I work my tail off,” his father said.
Robbie’s mother manages the Newark food pantry. His sister has plans to attend medical school, and she said that it was Robbie’s illness that inspired her to pursue that.
The Barrett family started a GoFundMe in 2015 account titled “Bugaman’s Dream.” Instead of using the donations for their expenses, his father said that the money raised through the account is used to fund a nonprofit started in Robbie’s name to raise awareness and help other families who face the same struggles. Bugaman is Robbie’s nickname, although no one is quite sure where it came from.
“I’m a little bug and I’m a man!” Robbie answered.
Weegar and Robbie’s father both said on Thursday that Robbie’s day as an honorary officer went great.
After Robbie got changed into his own police uniform on Wednesday morning, Weegar said that they began their day by taking a tour of the village police station, and sitting in on a portion of the village court proceedings. After that, they went to check out the new state-of-the-art 911 center, took a tour of the county jail and then met some of the lieutenants and sergeants at the Sheriff’s Office.
Finally, Robbie got to experience what inspired him to want to be a police officer in the first place – pulling someone over. According to Weegar, they conducted a controlled traffic stop on someone who had run a stop sign. After that, Weegar and Robbie got lunch before calling it a day.
“It meant a lot to the whole police department, as well as the community,” Weegar said. “That’s what community policing is, we take care of the people closest to us and it’s important to us that we’re in touch with the residents of Newark.”
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