Medford teen sworn in as Suffolk detective for a day

A 16-year-old cancer patient from Medford was sworn in as detective for the day on Tuesday.

Sean Patrick Dixon is battling a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. He was first diagnosed two years ago. Doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs at the hip.

Still, he hopes to one day serve alongside the men and women in blue.

"To help people and stop some of the bad things that go on in the world like crimes and gangs," says Dixon. 

Suffolk police gave the teen his badge during a swearing-in ceremony. 

"You're going straight from civilian to detective, which is pretty impressive," says Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini. "I went from prosecutor to commissioner, so I don't know who beat each other out there."

Dixon got some hands-on experience with tactical robots, interacting with the trained K-9 unit and learning to dust for fingerprints. It was capped off by a walk-out ceremony usually reserved for high-ranking officers when they retire. 

Dixon said the day reinforced his dream to be on the force, which included receiving a proclamation from the commissioner. 
 
"It's pretty awesome. I got to see some pretty great things," he said.