A 9-year-old boy who was recently named Detroit's police chief for a day has died, a Police Department spokesman confirmed Monday night.
Jayvon Felton had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood.
He wore a big smile Jan. 31, when police officials arranged for him to get star treatment as the city's honorary police chief. He was flown by helicopter to the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, where he took the oath of office.
"I can only imagine the strength and courage it takes for this young man, police chief, to fight this illness every day," Chief James Craig said then during a news conference.
At the event, Jayvon reunited with his classmates from Roberto Clemente Academy in Detroit, whom he had not seen in months.
Jayvon's cancer was discovered April 16. His mother, Amanda Clinkscales, told the Free Press at the time her son was named chief that his prognosis was good, but that the past couple weeks had been tough.
"We (were) crying together because he said he just wants to be a regular boy again. And I said, 'Oh no, you are a regular boy. What you have is not your fault. We're going to get through it because God said so, and you'll be just fine, and I love you,' " she said.
Detroit Police 3rd Deputy Chief Rodney Johnson said Jayvon died earlier Monday.
Details of funeral arrangements were not immediately available.
Copyright 2014 - Detroit Free Press
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
