Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 12-year-old Houston boy facing terminal brain and spine cancer, recently added two more agencies to his growing list as he continues his inspiring journey across the United States.
On Feb. 20, in two separate ceremonies, Daniel stood before Dayton Police Chief Derek Wood and Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader and was officially sworn in as an honorary officer, bringing his total count as of last week to 818 law enforcement agencies nationwide.
“Devarjaye has a very impressive resume. I was reading over it the last couple days. I’m not so sure that you shouldn’t be up here giving this speech instead of me,” said Woods.
“Devarjaye was diagnosed at six and a half years old with a very rare form of brain and spinal cancer, and he was given five months to live. That was six and a half years ago roughly. Here he stands today. He’s had 13 brain surgeries and experimental medicine studies. His family lost their home and all their possessions during Hurricane Harvey’s flooding and spent weeks living at the George R. Brown Convention Center, which is where he found his love for law enforcement,” Woods continued.
Explaining the positive impact that officers working at the GRB convention center made on Devarjaye, Woods said that he initially had a goal of becoming an honorary officer for 100 agencies, which was quickly accomplished.
“He has been announced on the Congressional floor in Washington, D.C., by Congressman Troy Nehls, a former Fort Bend County sheriff. He graduated from the FBI National Academy Associates, Session 284, in Quantico, Va. He’s a graduate from the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas at San Jose University’s Constable Leadership Program. He’s been on the cover of Blues Magazine in April 2023. He’s a K-9 trainer, a hostage negotiator and graduated from the Kelly Air Force Base Academy. He’s a Shriner. The list goes on and on,” Woods said. “But more than his accomplishments, Devarjaye does his best to make everyone smile. He gives ladies hugs, rubs bald heads and he’s definitely funny. He says he is an old soul – 12 going on 40.”
Woods explained that Devarjaye hopes to continue his quest to be sworn in by as many law enforcement agencies as possible “until his gas tank runs out.”
With emotion in his voice, Woods said, “He wants everyone to follow his journey with hopes that it empowers and motivates you to get through your trials and tribulations of life. He wants to be a reminder to everyone to enjoy life every second because you never know when it’s going to be your last. It is a privilege for me to stand here today to swear you in as a faithfully sworn officer.”
After his swearing-in ceremony in Dayton, Devarjaye and his father, Theodis Daniel, and his younger brother, traveled to the Liberty County Law Enforcement Center in Liberty where they met with Sheriff Bobby Rader, Sgt. Tommy Koen and others before being sworn in as an honorary deputy sheriff.
His father said his next stops were in Colorado County and Caldwell counties. Devarjaye was previously sworn in at Liberty Police Department in June 2022.
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