Boy with leukemia becomes highway patrol officer for a day

VALLEJO, CA (KTRK) -- For 6-year-old Tristan, Friday was a day he will never forget.

The Golden Gate Division of the California Highway Patrol welcomed Tristan, who has been fighting leukemia for three years, into its ranks for a day, bringing him along on a faux traffic stop and letting him explore an agency airplane.

Tristan even got a fun-sized CHP uniform to wear during his big adventure.

"We saw right away that Tristan was an especially brave kid and knew immediately he would make a fine Highway Patrolman," the agency wrote on Facebook.

Tristan's day ended with a heartfelt gift of toys from CHP officers.

"He's stronger than I could have ever been when I was younger," remarked Tristan's visibly emotional father. "It's been a long time since I've seen him smile that big."