GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 5-year-old Grand Rapids boy who dreams of becoming a cop now looks the part thanks to a kind act inspired by a social media post.
Heidi Versluis recently wrote to the Grand Rapids Police Department to thank Officer Adam Ickes for spending time with her son, Travis, after responding to a call in their neighborhood on the city's Northwest Side.
Travis showed off his Power Wheels police cruiser, and the boy's "dream came true" at the chance to sit in the front seat of a real cop car, Versluis said in a note the department shared on Facebook last week.
The story and photos of Ickes and Travis garnered more than just positive response on Facebook.
Travis' small car is now decked out with custom-made stickers to match the department's cruisers. Versluis said retired Fruitport sign maker Rick Cejmer was touched by the story and created the stickers so Travis would have a lasting memory.
Travis, who idolizes officers, is proud of his car's new design.
"This just goes to show that giving someone just a few minutes of your time can create a lasting impression and inspire others," Versluis wrote in a follow-up letter to police. "While Travis may not understand the social media impact of it all, at only five years old he is more motivated now than ever that someday he will drive the real thing."
Angie Jackson covers crime and breaking news for MLive. Email her at ajackso3@mlive.com, and follow her on Twitter.