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At the tender age of 6, Jase Groseclose has already set his sights on a future in law enforcement, but for now, he’s on a mission to collect patches.
The young enthusiast from Virginia has a clear vision of what he wants to be when he grows up — his dreams include becoming a U.S. marshal, firefighter, police officer and even a Texas Ranger.
According to his mother, Sara, Jase’s passion for law enforcement is evident in his daily choice of attire, as he dresses as a police officer almost every day.
“He just loves anything police; it’s what he asks for all the time,” Sara told WCYB News.
Jase’s journey into the world of law enforcement deepened during his 6th birthday party, when Bristol, Virginia, Sheriff Tyrone Foster surprised him with a special gift: a patch from the agency.
Recalling the moment, Sara shared: “Ever since then… he carried it around and wanted me to sew it on something of his. I said, ‘Well, no, we’re going to put it up. That’s special; not everyone has a patch.’”
What started with one patch has blossomed into a collection of around 50 patches from local law enforcement agencies, including some from across the United States and around the globe.
Sara was overwhelmed by the amount of patches they’ve received.
“We’ve had quite a bit, honestly. He’s got more than I thought he would; it’s been a really good response so far,” she said.
However, the story doesn’t end with the patch collection. Jase has even received surprise visits from various agencies, including the Bluff City Police Department in Tennessee.
Officer Nathaniel Hawthorne from BCPD described Jase as “an inspiration” and shared the joy of witnessing the smile on the young enthusiast’s face during their visit.
Even fire stations have joined in to support Jase’s passion. The Washington County, Virginia, Fire Department, through Assistant Fire Chief Marty Lewis, said it was important to inspire kids to explore potential careers.
“It means the world, anything to help the community, kids look up and find a career they want to do, and just make it special for them,” Lewis stated.
Jase’s ultimate goal is ambitious — to collect a patch from every law enforcement department in the United States.
His mother, Sara, remains optimistic.
“I hope we break 100 at least,” she said.
Jase himself, looking toward the future, said: “Whenever I can grow up, I can see what country I’m going to work at, and I can just put it on my shirt.”
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