“Look! Up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Superman!” were the opening lines in the 1951-era “Superman” TV series.
Under every police officer’s uniform shirt is a layer of ballistic properties made of Kevlar. It is designed to protect each wearer from gunfire. But one particular cop who fights crime wearing a Forth Worth Police Department (FWPD) uniform has deeper layers. Stitched on his bullet-proof vest, right next to his heart, is the whopping letter S universally personified by Superman. Although the S stands for Superman in comic-style fashion, this real-life crime fighter exemplifies the character traits of all superheroes combined.
Although Batman largely fights evil and woes in Gotham, the one consistent factor about this special policeman is that he travels the nation to place smiles on the faces of children with cancer…and his brand of medicine is priceless because it is from the heart of a selfless cop.
With the support of donations, his time, money and agenda are all his own…while his police agency tries to accommodate his passion for instilling any semblance of glee in ailing children.
Forth Worth, Texas police Officer Damon Cole dons “Incredible Hulk” costume before visiting sick children at the University Medical Center Las Vegas Children’s Hospital. (Credit: Officer Damon Cole)
Upon his very first life-altering bond with a child affected by cancer, Fort Worth, Texas police Officer Damon Cole said, “It was such a great experience to see how happy I had made [Bryce] and his family, and that is when I knew that I had found my calling. Ever since then, I will go anywhere to see any child, so I can have the same impact on them as I did with Bryce and his family.
“I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say, ‘because of you I didn’t give up.’ Be the reason someone smiles today,” laments Officer Cole.
“My goal is to go anywhere in the world to see any sick child that wants to see me. I currently have been to 20 different states.” Traveling changes the environmental surroundings while the mission stays static. “This is my mission statement: I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say, ‘because of you I didn’t give up.’ Be the reason someone smiles today,” laments Officer Cole.
As you read on, you will undoubtedly see how stellar he is in fulfilling his mission. He even emblazoned this unique, impassioned journey on his personally-owned 2012 Dodge Charger’s Batman-Superman theme exemplifying his dedication to combatting childhood cancer.
Even though Officer Cole really can’t fly, it’s no big deal. You know you are rightly placed when you have no shame in donning a dart on your forehead, making a child’s day so much better, as Officer Cole does routinely.
It doesn’t take psychology courses to learn how to interact with other humans. It does take the insights of one to be completely present with another while both share momentous experiences, as exemplified by Officer Cole in countless examples made available on his social media accounts and among media outlets’ broadcasts.
While composing this piece on his sojourn into the painful world of childhood cancer and how he serves as a mainstay elixir of hope, happiness and heroism…NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt aired a segment with Officer Cole…and his choked-up words flowed with welled-up eyes portrayed the essence of a copiously caring cop.
Modern-Day Caped Crusader
Officer Damon Cole’s mission —his life’s work, even— is to personally spend time with youngsters afflicted with cancer while bringing a sense of fun times to relieve pain and the utter havoc caused by chemotherapy. Officer Cole’s larger-than-life persona is not shy about donning those, you know…skin-tight outfits superheroes wear. I bet he even has a closet, perhaps even a cave somewhere in Texas, relegated for crime-fighting capes…enough Wow-factor for any youngster.
Given Officer Cole’s specific mission, it is probably best to say cancer-fighting capes instead of crime-fighting—I’m sure he fulfills both capacities quite diligently. No matter, it is for the kids. And that is the impetus for Officer Cole’s journey: Making the youngsters’ fight…his fight as well.
He even partners with other cops in other states to bring a sense of unified support to kids diagnosed with cancer. Along the way, detectives with the NYPD honored his passion for policing and child-endearing investments.
It was amazing seeing the @StatueEllisNPS as Batman. Thank you Det. Brienza & Det. Parke with @NYPDnews for setting this up for me. I was honored to have NYPD harbor unit escort my ferry to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. pic.twitter.com/BcuMGaF5YH
— Officer Damon Cole (@HeroesandCops) December 24, 2017
Any of a growing portfolio of pictures taken with children battling cancer with Officer Cole by their side depicts a man who is just as impacted in the feels as each kid relegated to a hospital gurney or wheelchair or chemotherapy recliner with medicinal drips wrestling with their physiology. They deserve rays of hope like Officer Cole.
Heroes and Cops Against Childhood Cancer
Having been a cop since 1999, Officer Cole developed his own brand of relating to children who often witness terrible life situations. Those same children need a comfort zone, and Officer Cole came up with a hugely effective strategy whereby both his department and kids derive a sense of partnership. Bonds transcend trust, from which dividends are ripened.
“Every child should know that a police officer is always there to help them get through anything. The best way to get this message across to them is to build up a trusting relationship with them.”
Officer Cole explained his legacy: “Every child should know that a police officer is always there to help them get through anything. The best way to get this message across to them is to build up a trusting relationship with them. So around 13 years ago I had the Superman logo sewn on my bulletproof vest and that way whenever I was dealing with a child on a call for service, I would tell them a secret but they would have to promise me ‘that you will not tell anybody.'”
How does a cop form a true-blue bond with a child?
“I then make them pinky promise me to keep the secret. I would then undo my shirt so that it exposes my Superman logo on my bulletproof vest. At this point the children go crazy, and they usually ask me where my cape is. I tell them that I cannot wear it with my uniform because it will get wrinkled. From that moment on that child will always remember me and that can make it easier for me to help them in the long run, because they trust me.”
And that is a potion whereby children can be enveloped by feel-good moments while a certain cop with a heart of gold can fill his oath laden with humanitarian constructs.
Forth Worth PD Officer Damon Cole dons a Batman costume and travels all over to bring smiles to children battling cancer. He is a staple among the Heroes and Cops Against Childhood Cancer organization. (Credit: Facebook/Kristy Stephens Maquire via Damon Cole)
An expanded version of Officer Cole’s wonderful legacy can be viewed upon his Heroes and Cops Against Childhood Cancer website as well as among an array of YouTube videos.
Reaching Out, Touching Lives
Although he remains an icon in the realm of lifting up children with cancer, Officer Cole spreads his wings and flares his cape for all lives. After all, why else does one really become a cop?
Among his travels to visit sick children all across America, Officer Cole fills his itinerary with all-things-supportive such as bringing life-circumstance messages to youngsters and teens in school settings. Yes…there, too, his words are illustrated by any number of superhero garb demonstrating his verve for life, depositing indelible experiences for those in attendance. Of all the teachers during my childhood, I remember the clown who came to class to talk with us about “happiness.” Perhaps in the category of “first impressions,” attire is most effective.
Forth Worth police Officer Damon Cole dons a Batman outfit and visits schools to talk to children about…life. (Credit: Facebook/Damon Cole)
When I were a young lad growing up in Brooklyn, NY, I recall spending an inordinate amount of time watching “Underdog,” a long-eared animated caped crusader who donned a superhero outfit and darted around the world to save the day. In fact, the cartoon’s theme song went something like “There’s no need to fear, Underdog is here!” Those episodes may have factored into my eventual calling as a cop, minus changing into cape and superhero-mode in telephone booths or clandestine caves.
Mutual Aid
It is a universal protocol among public safety agencies to help each other out, to provide extra bodies, equipment, apparatus, highly-credentialed specialists in a certain practice, and any manner of assistance when asked. Big city cops help small-town cops, firefighters assist neighboring city fire personnel, private ambulance squadrons help municipal paramedics. You get the picture.
As a policeman, I often pondered not only what I was able to offer in terms of public service…but also heralded the myriad benefits I received from countless victims, witnesses, anyone I met during police duty days. It continued when off-duty as well. Relationships are formed. Bonds continue, even in the realm of departure.
I met many superheroes in my days as a police officer in Florida, and one in particular enhanced my life. “Sammy” was a vibrant five-year-old boy who relished superhero traits, Batman in particular. He donned a Batman costume at a church-sponsored shindig in his honor. You see, Sammy was battling cancer in the jurisdiction where I worked extra-duty as a cop on Sunday’s. I got to know Sammy’s mom, dad and siblings while co-attending Sunday services. That is how I became aware of Sammy’s plight with cancer.
In that context, I gained new family members. So did Sammy…a blue one.
Enamored with Superheroes, Sammy also aspired to be a crime-fighter. His parents shared with me that “he adores cops” and how “he wants to be one when he grows up.” Cancer threw a wrench in the engine of young aspirations.
Nonetheless, police command staff at my department approved a swearing-in ceremony for little Sammy. Within walking-distance from his home, the ceremony in Sammy’s honor was held at the church. He especially liked the SWAT unit guys and their tools of the trade. What an extravaganza that was.
Sammy donned a Batman outfit, and at one point asked me to affix the headpiece over his head and around his shoulders. That was a bittersweet moment for this cop.
Five-year-old Sammy battled cancer while donning Batman garb — favorite among his like of superheroes— during his police swearing-in ceremony. “Officer Sammy” succumbed to cancer shortly thereafter this photograph was taken. (Credit: then-Police Chief Tony Velong)
That was the last time I saw Sammy bright with beaming eyes. My last moments with him were spent in a hospice-like set-up at his home, dealing with pain while sifting through police patches I had accumulated through the years. His parents sat nearby, lovingly soaking-up their little boy’s focus on the kaleidoscope of police insignias while an IV drip coursed his cancer-riddled small frame.
Some beginnings are seen all the way through to endings. Sammy passed shortly thereafter that poignant moment. Relative to the life course, final moments are a component among human lineage. Officer Cole knows this to be true as well. He attends funerals of those children who fought hard against cancer yet perished. It is worthy to consider the many memories they left with Officer Cole as well as the glorious moments those children took with them to the academy of angels.
Officer Cole often says: “I’m not the real hero, the kids are the true heroes.” Definitely takes one to know one. In his repertoire of superhero cape-scapes, Officer Cole currently dresses up as any of 13 superheroes.
One other thing: his other superhero role is as a dad to his daughter, Savannah, whose genetic makeup is unequivocally laden with selfless traits and a giving nature.
Forth Worth police Officer Damon Cole and his daughter, Savannah, two superheroes in a league of their own. (Credit: Heroes and Cops Against Childhood Cancer)
If I continued writing this story while Officer Cole traverses the nation visiting children with cancer, it would culminate in a thick book. More power to him!
Since this piece celebrates a superhero police officer who dedicates his time and energy to lift-up children, I think it best to close it with Officer Cole’s testimony:
“I will tell you a secret about police officers that everyone seems to forget, ‘We are no different than anyone else.'”
“Just please remember that everything that I do, ALL of this is done on my own time and my own money. My police department does not pay me to do what I do so anytime I go see a child during my work hours; I have to use my vacation time to do it. I also have a 10-year-old daughter Savannah myself and she is my world. I do have my police department badge and patch on my costumes because I want everyone to know that I am a police officer and it helps me build a trusting relationship with them. If I learn of a terminally-ill child that wants to see me, I will drop what I am doing to make that happen as quickly as possible. I will tell you a secret about police officers that everyone seems to forget, ‘We are no different than anyone else.'”
It was David Bowie who sang “We can be heroes, forever and ever.” This Texas cop seems to have a knack for making kids feel like superheroes, forever and ever…and thereafter.
