Sarasota PD grants 4-year-old's wish, swears in youngest officer

By Andrew Warfield
| 5:00 a.m. June 28, 2023

Sarasota
Neighbors

When representatives of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida were planning a Siesta Key beach vacation for a New Jersey family with a critically ill child, they made a discovery that prompted them to get the police involved.

Andrew Pickart, a 4-year-old who has battled neuroblastoma most of his life, also has a fascination with police. Thanks to the Sarasota Police Department, his wish was enhanced Monday when he was sworn in as an honorary officer by SPD Chief Rex Troche.

Andrew and his family, who live in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, were treated to a morning full of police activities at SPD headquarters after being sworn in before a room filled with sworn and non-sworn personnel. Troche administered Officer Pickart’s customized oath while holding him at the podium in the briefing room.

“Do you promise to take all the bad people to jail?”

“OK.”

“Do you promise to keep your mom and dad and your family safe?”

“OK.”

“And do you promise to be a good and great police officer?”

“OK.”

“Officer Andrew Pickart, you are now an honorary Sarasota police officer.”

Not even a rousing round of cheers and applause fazed Andrew, who was calm and composed throughout the morning as he met and shook hands with Troche, members of the command staff and representatives of every division who presented him with challenge coins, a tradition of showing mutual respect for fellow officers.

SPD went all out for Andrew's special day, starting with the arrival of the family — parents Anhthu and Michael; brother, Erik; sister Kyra; and grandmother Annette Tran — at headquarters. After Andrew explored a police motorcycle and patrol SUV, they were escorted to the quartermaster’s office where he was issued a uniform and badge. An elevator ride to the sixth floor took them to Troche’s office where they met in a conference room and Andrew’s official photo was taken for his ID badge.

From there, it was off to the briefing room for the swearing in.

“Today we will swear in one of our newest police officers into the SPD family,” Troche said. “I would like to thank the Pickart family for allowing the Sarasota Police Department to be a part of Andrew’s special wish. This swearing-in ceremony is for a special young man, Andrew Pickart. At only 4 years of age, he’s already shown us incredible strength and bravery that is quite inspiring.

“Andrew, my young friend, today you are granted a special title because of your bravery. We need officers like you to keep the city of Sarasota safe.”

Following the ceremony, activities moved outdoors for demonstrations by SPD’s SWAT and K-9 units. The morning was capped off by some quiet family time back in the briefing room with Troche, when Andrew was presented with police-themed gifts to commemorate the day.

The Pickart family will continue their beach vacation until Thursday, when they will leave Officer Pickart’s jurisdiction and travel to Orlando to visit with relatives there.

Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche with the Pickart family (from left) Annette Tran, Anhthu, Andrew, Erik, Kyra and Michael.

Four-year-old Andrew Pickart and family are greeted with a sign outside the Sarasota Police Department headquarters. From left: Michael, Anthu, Andrew, Erik, Kyra and Annette Tran.

Officer Bobby Dodge shows 4-year-old cancer patient Andrew Pickart around a police motorcycle shortly after arriving at SPD headquarters on Monday as he reported for duty on his first day on the job.

Andrew Pickart, sporting his new SPD uniform, is escorted by his mother, Anhthu, and brother, Erik, on his way to meet his new boss, SPD Chief Rex Troche, before his swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

Andrew Pickart prepares to take SPD Officer A.J. Varlaro's patrol vehicle out for a test drive.

A full house of SPD officers, civilian staff and others attended the swearing-in ceremony for Andrew Pickart, in fulfillment of a wish he expressed to Make-A-Wish.

Newly sworn-in Officer Andrew Pickart proudly displays his certificate while held by SPD Police Chief Rex Troche.

Sarasota Mayor Kyle Battie speaks following the swearing-in of new Officer Andrew Pickart.

Following the busy morning of activities, the Pickart family enjoys some quiet time, and gifts, with SPD Chief Rex Troche.

Andrew Pickart receives police challenge coins from representatives of all of SPD's divisions.

New SPD Officer Andrew Pickart gets familiar with the controls inside the departments SWAT response vehicle.

Officer Andrew Pickart escorts an SPD K-9 unit to a patrol vehicle.

author

Andrew Warfield

Andrew Warfield is the Sarasota Observer city reporter. He is a four-decade veteran of print media. A Florida native, he has spent most of his career in the Carolinas as a writer and editor, nearly a decade as co-founder and editor of a community newspaper in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.