HANCOCK COUNTY — Caleb Anderson has always wanted to be a police officer. He also loves dogs. With the help of his family, he combined his two passions and sold bracelets to raise money to purchase a protective vest for a Fortville Police Department K9 officer named Oszkar.
Caleb, 9, McCordsville, is battling severe health issues. He was one of two county youngsters sworn in as deputy officers at area law agencies this week as part of community outreach by both departments.
Caleb is headed to Boston the day after Thanksgiving for his 13th surgery to stabilize an immune disorder, one of his many health issues, said his mother, Sue Anderson.
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Despite his own difficulties, Caleb; his twin sister Kaitlyn; and older sister Hailey told their parents they wanted to do something to help the local community after learning not all police dogs are given protective bullet-proof vests, which cost around $800 each. The work done by K9 officers is just as dangerous as it is for their human handlers; last week, a police dog in Fishers was shot to death while tracking two suspects.
The Anderson family sold hand-made bracelets through social media and raised enough to purchase a protective vest for Oszkar, a 2-year-old male shepherd who recently joined the Fortville police force. The idea, the family said, was to build a relationship with the local police department and not just make a donation.
Bill Knauer, chief of the Fortville Police Department, conducted an official swearing-in ceremony for Caleb Wednesday morning, Nov. 20, and gave Caleb a real badge. Knauer also presented the youngster and his sister Kaitlyn a plaque for their hard work raising the funds.
Knauer told Caleb he was now part of the Blue Line Family, a group of officers who help each other in their time of need.
“It’s nice when we have somebody like this young man who wants to do something so good for us, because those vests are not cheap,” Knauer said.
In a day and age where police budgets are tight, every penny helps, and department officials are thankful Oszkar will be protected, the chief noted.
Derek Archer, Fortville police officer and Oszkar’s handler, said it was heartwarming to see the family step up to help his K9 partner.
“Caleb is fighting his own battle, but he took time out to give back to the community. That’s amazing,” Archer said.
John Anderson, Caleb’s father, said the family has two dogs at home, and when his son first learned about police dogs, they knew it would be a great way to teach their children to give back.
“Caleb has always had a big desire to be a police officer, and it’s amazing to watch him with the dogs; he really connects with them,” John Anderson said.
This isn’t the first time Caleb and his family have reached out to help police officers. Since the family travels quite often to Boston for Caleb’s health care, they recently donated stuffed animals called Trouble the Dog, to the Quincy, Massachusetts, Police Department. The furry friends are for officers in Quincy to give to kids who are involved in an accident, crisis or other difficult situation.
“Not only did we want to give back to the folks in Boston, but we wanted to give back to our own community,” Sue Anderson said.
Earlier this week, Sheriff Brad Burkhart swore in another junior deputy, Warren Sanford, a first-grader at Sugar Creek Elementary. As part of his duties, Warren was in command of Burkhart’s lights and siren in his patrol vehicle. After a quick patrol around southern Hancock County, Warren and the sheriff went to lunch together and talked about police work.
Warren got to be a junior deputy after his family was the high bidder during a fundraiser for Sugar Creek Elementary School. As part of an auction, Burkhart offered a certificate for a “Lunch and Ride-along with the Sheriff.”
