CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - The Casper Police Department named a new chief Tuesday, as 6-year-old Dorian Layton was sworn into duty at the Hall of Justice by “former” Chief of Police Chris Walsh. Dorian’s older brother Julien was appointed a police captain.
“This was a collective effort,” said Walsh, who was relegated from his duties for about three hours while Dorian led the force. “We heard that he had wanted to meet the chief, so we decided to make him the chief.”
Dorian was profiled by the Star-Tribune shortly after his family moved back to Casper last month and he delivered presents to children spending Christmas in the Wyoming Medical Center. He has been battling inoperable brain cancer nearly his whole life.
Already, though, the lively boy nicknamed “Red Ninja” has overcome a bleak outlook, walking and talking like any other 6-year-old despite a tumor growing on his brain stem. Prior to returning to Casper, where Dorian was born and raised, the Laytons had been seeking treatment for the cancer in Texas.
The Layton brothers took an oath during a 1 p.m. media conference Tuesday to serve and protect Casper. The Police Department’s leaders attended the ceremony. After their swearing in, the brothers toured the department. All the while, the two wielded wooden swords, handcuffs hung from their belts, and they wore special uniforms adorned with their names and new titles.
About 1:30 p.m. Dorian and Julien were briefed on a developing situation involving a thief who broken into cars near the Hall of Justice in downtown Casper. Dorian analyzed a map detailing the patterns of the break-ins and a photo of the suspected perpetrator.
“We’ll work our way down and find them in the area,” Dorian said. He ordered that all officers stay near him, including two K9 units.
The brothers were then told that they needed to meet their boss, City Manager John Patterson, and the entourage ventured across the street to City Hall.
Patterson, who had also been briefed on the suspected car thief, encouraged Dorian and Julien to taze the criminal if they were to catch him.
“Don’t be afraid to use lethal force,” Patterson said.
Shortly after the meeting with Patterson, a call came over the radio that the thief had been spotted in the City Hall parking lot.
Both Dorian and Julien sprinted to the exit, yelling, “Go, go, go!”
Once outside, a man wearing a dark shirt and ski cap, which matched the description given earlier, saw the Laytons, their squad of roughly 10 police officers and the two large canines, and attempted to flee. At that point, the brothers were able to tackle the suspect in a grassy area, handcuff him and recover multiple wallets from his pockets.
Julien offered the suspect a Hershey’s Kiss chocolate from Patterson’s office before snatching it away, saying, “This would be as good as money where you’re going.”
The group then escorted the thief - Detective Jeremy Tremel - into a squad car and transported him directly to the Natrona County Detention Center.
Chief Layton’s term ended around 4 p.m. following an inspection of the Casper Metro Animal Control Center.
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Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, https://www.trib.com
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