Miami Police Chief Gives VIP Tour To Special Visitor

MIAMI, FL — Five-year-old Benjamin Amador was wearing a Superman shirt and a big smile Monday as he and his little brother, Brandon, touched down on the roof of the Miami Police Department in a green and white Miami-Dade police helicopter.

The children were greeted on the rooftop helipad by a gaggle of television cameras and none other than Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina, who served as their lunch partner and personal tour guide.

"Just to see how happy he was — to see it in his eyes — there’s no words to describe that," Officer Michael Vega of the Miami Police Department told Patch of Benjamin, who suffers from one of the most aggressive forms of childhood cancer. "You can tell that he was so happy to be here, and so happy to be with the chief and be seeing all of these new things."

In February, Benjamin was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, which strikes around 200 to 400 children in the United States each year, typically between the ages of 4 and 11, according to the Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation. Benjamin recently underwent 30 chemotherapy treatments to help reduce the golf-ball sized tumor on his brain stem.

"His prognosis is devastating," penned the child's uncle on a GoFundMe set up to help the family. "We are grateful for any donations and prayers. Everyone, please help us pray. We are praying for a miracle."

Monday's visit to police headquarters was donated by Axon, which makes police body cameras and other public safety products. Axon purchased the special visit and helicopter ride at an auction to benefit the Miami Police Athletic League.

"They donated $8,000 to win this, and then they donated the trip to this kid," Vega explained. The child will also have a special visit to Marlins Park on Wednesday. He will have an opportunity to meet some of the players before making a ceremonial first pitch.

Benjamin and his brother saw demonstrations by K-9 officers, the mounted patrol, SWAT and the Miami Police Department's Marine Patrol at Lummus Park.

Vega, who is a veteran Miami police officer, said he couldn't help but be touched by the child's visit.

"It had me in tears," he shared. "We don’t feel how blessed we are until we see a case like this."