Policeman makes autistic teenager's dream come true for Christmas

Johnny Morin has always dreamt of becoming a police officer

CBS DFW

A policeman went above and beyond the call of duty by making the dreams of an autistic teenager come true.

Johnny Morin is a 15-year-old boy from Texas.

Morin, who is on the autism spectrum, has one ultimate wish - to become a police officer one day.

Morin’s uncle, Carlos Saldivar, used to go to Bradfield Elementary School in Dallas with Craig Dockter, as reported by CBS DFW.

Dockter has since become a Garland police officer, so Saldivar got back in touch with his old classmate to make his nephew’s dreams a reality.

Dockter and Saldivar had been planning the surprise for months and it was all worth it in the end for Morin’s priceless reaction.

CBS DFW

When Morin first met Dockter, he couldn’t contain his excitement.

“He ran past his uncle, past his mum, everybody, ran to me, gave me a hug, and called me by the name, and I’d never met him,” says the police officer.

Dockter let Morin blare the siren in the police car, took him for a ride and even gave him a badge of his own.

CBS DFW

Morin’s stepmother, Sonia Rodriguez, explained what the exchange meant for the young boy and his family.

“He’s very much loved,” she said. “He has a lot of people that love him, and so we’re glad that he got, that Officer Craig is able to make his dream come true.”

According to the National Police Autism Association, there’s no reason why a person on the autism spectrum can’t become a police officer in the UK if they pass all the requirements.

“Officers with Asperger syndrome (a form of autism without intellectual impairment) can be found at all levels of the police service,” their website states.

“Some were diagnosed with the condition after several years’ service, having successfully passed the entry assessment centre alongside non-disabled (or ‘neurotypical’ - NT) candidates.”

The National Police Autism Association is a national support group for people with autism and other neurodiverse conditions in the UK police force.