Police officers fulfill teenager’s dream by escorting him to his high school graduation
What began as a simple interaction at a school event has grown into a powerful story of connection, community and kindness between Queensland Police officers and a young man with a lifelong dream.
Eighteen-year-old Max Dezolt, who lives with cerebral palsy, has long been fascinated by policing. That interest turned into something deeper two years ago, when he walked up to Police Liaison Officer Michelle Jardine, pointed at her badge and said, “po-po”.
From that moment, a special bond was formed.
PLO Jardine recalls the day vividly. “He walked straight up to me, pointed at my badge and said ‘po-po’ and we immediately formed a strong bond,” she said.
Recognising how much policing meant to Max, Jardine organised a police shirt for him through the Uniform 4 Kids program when he turned 16, along with a short drive around the block in a police car. It was a small gesture – but it made a big impact.
Since then, Max’s enthusiasm for the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has only grown. When he was asked to plan his dream graduation experience, he knew exactly what he wanted: a navy suit, LED lights on his wheelchair, and a police car escort to his high school Valedictory Dinner at the Lucinda Point Hotel.
Max’s wishes were carefully compiled onto a vision board, where he imagined how his big night would unfold.
“When his teacher asked him to plan his dream formal, Max knew what he wanted straight away,” PLO Jardine said. “He made every decision himself and was so certain about wanting police to be part of it.”
To help make that dream a reality, QPS officers Senior Constable Sean Krumin and Constable Rowan Lee stepped in. On the night of the formal, they arrived in a marked patrol car to escort Max and his friends to the venue, lights flashing and sirens sounding in celebration rather than emergency.
For Senior Constable Krumin, it was a reminder of the human side of policing.
“When you choose a career in policing, you do so knowing that some days will be incredibly difficult, but days like this where we get to make someone’s dream come true is so rewarding,” he said.
“It’s a strong reminder that our service in and to community comes in so many different forms. Max is a remarkable young man and it was a privilege to help make his graduation that extra bit special.”
As the police car arrived at the venue, the group was met with cheers, clapping and smiles from onlookers who quickly understood that this was not a standard police arrival.
Max’s mother, Trudi Dezolt, said the escort has become the highlight of her son’s final year of school.
“He’s been very excited to know the police are coming to pick him up and take him down to his graduation, and has talked about it over and over,” she said.
“He’s worked very hard to get here and overcome so many challenges, not just in his school life but life in general, so this is all about celebrating his massive achievement.”
She also spoke of the support her son has received from classmates, teachers, family and the wider community.
“We have been very blessed with how wonderful his friends, family and teachers are with him, because everybody just falls in love with Maxie because he has such an infectious personality,” Ms Dezolt said. “Just to put a smile on a child’s face like this is amazing.”
When asked via his iPad why he wanted to arrive in a police car, Max replied simply: “The lights and sirens make me feel safe.”
For the officers involved, the night was just as memorable. For Max and his family, it was a dream fulfilled and a story that showcases the power of genuine community policing.
As Max looks towards the future, one question naturally arises: does he want to be a policeman one day? When asked, he gave a firm answer: “Yes.”
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