Boy with autism surprised by officers on 5th birthday
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – A group of police officers helped a Tennessee boy with autism celebrate his fifth birthday.
Dane Hullinger was born prematurely and diagnosed with autism before his second birthday.
The boy’s mom served in the Air Force and his dad is still in the Army, stationed at Fort Campbell.
Many extended family members live out of state and couldn’t make it to Portland, Tennessee, for his birthday party.
Dane is a big fan of police officers and even dressed up like one for Halloween last year, so the Portland Police Department decided to bring the party to Dane.Click here to see photos of the adorable surprise
Corporal Kurtis McKelvey and several other officers brought him presents, but Dane’s focus quickly shifted toward the police cruisers.
“It’s neat to see in a 5-year-old the admiration for law enforcement,” April Hullinger said.
Officers taught him how to turn the lights on and activate the sirens, giving him a birthday he’ll never forget.
“We decided we’d come make a visit and let him see the cars,” said Cpl. McKelvey. “And let him enjoy us for a little bit and we can enjoy him.”