In Goose Creek, South Carolina, a special relationship has been forged between a local 8-year-old boy and a neighborhood police captain.
Her son, AJ Petelo, who is autistic, was elated when he found out that his mother had specially arranged for him to tour the local police station.
![(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KaneshaLeachPetelo">Kanesha Leach-Petelo</a>)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2F23%2FAJ-Petelo-and-Goose-Creek-Police-Officers-story-9.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
One of AJ’s most recent letters contained a heartfelt note with a direct question addressed to Hill:
“Dear Captain Hill, how are you? I wanted to ask you if you would be my godfather. A godfather is a dad who will be there if my dad can’t and I want that to be you.”
![AJ's letter (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GooseCreekPD">Goose Creek Police Department</a>)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2F23%2FAJ-Petelo-and-Goose-Creek-Police-Officers-story.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
![Capt. Tom Hill with AJ (Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GooseCreekPD">Goose Creek Police Department</a>)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2F23%2FAJ-Petelo-and-Goose-Creek-Police-Officers-story-11.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Having read the letter, Hill said he was extremely touched.
“I think the family unit is an extremely important thing to me,” he told the outlet. “I told him that I would be honored to be his godfather. I met up with him at a park, I provided him with a letter and I have him a little gift.”
After the encounter, Hill said AJ’s heartfelt wish gave him a glimmer of hope.
“It really helped me tremendously,“ he said. ”You know, we can reach these individuals one person at a time.”