“Our world came crashing down,” stated Brad Weets, Morrison, IL, when four-year-old son Jeg was diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Disease (NPC) in October 2017. The family’s health crisis drove Whiteside County Sergeant Kristopher Schmidt, far right, to action. He explained that crisis was one of two reasons for organizing a Law Enforcement ceremony for the Weets family.
Schmidt has a 15-year-old step-daughter, Madelyn Hackbarth, with a bone disorder, similar to Rickets. Rickets is a bone disorder caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. Bone abnormalities associated with Rickets are due to poor mineralization with calcium and phosphate. She has had bone surgeries and takes on-going medication to make her bones stronger.
Sergeant Schmidt explained he wanted “to bring awareness to this uncommon disease [NPC] and the [Weets] family’s need to pay for an experimental drug.”
Little Jeg has always loved Law Enforcement. On Saturday morning, March 17, 2018, shortly after 9:00 a.m., he was sworn in as a Morrison Police Officer. Chief Brian Melton volunteered to support this cause, when Sergeant Schmidt asked him to recognize the lad. Chief Melton read the official (“This is the real thing.”) Oath of Office. He and his newest Officer shook hands. Chief Melton gave Jeg a baseball cap, MPD shoulder patch, MPD badge patch, and stickers.
Next, Wyatt Heyvaert, Village of Albany Chief of Police, presented Honorary Albany, IL, Police Officer status upon Jeg. Chief Heyvaert is Jeg’s sponsor for membership in the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP.) Chief Melton was Chief Heyvaert’s sponsor. He brought a bag of items, including an IACP frisbee.
Sergeant Schmidt brought Jeg three official recognitions: a shoulder patch and a “Challenge Coin” from the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office and a pin from the Illinois COPS Chapter (Concern of Police Survivors), a fundraiser Schmidt supports for families of officers killed in the line of duty. He presented seven-year-old Claire Weets with a gift bag.
Shown left-to-right are Whiteside County Deputy and Canine Handler Rollie Elder; Police Officer Mike Moon; Police Officer Dan Simmons; Morrison Police Chief Brian Melton; Brad Weets holding Jeg; Jenna Weets with Claire; Albany Police Chief Wyatt Heyvaert; Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Kris Schmidt; Whiteside County Deputy Sean Coutts.
The brief ceremony took place in the gymnasium at Northside Elementary School, 520 N. Genesee Street, Morrison. Family members, School Superintendent Scott Vance, local and television media WHBF (Channel 4) and KWQC (Channel 6), and the public gathered to celebrate Jeg’s special achievement. Cookies and punch were enjoyed while dual Honorary Police Officer Jeg Weets was escorted around town, sitting up front in his car seat. When prompted, he gave the Editor a tiny thumbs up.
At about 9:25, Chief Brian Melton led the procession on a “tour of Downtown, around the school once, and back. He loved it! Jeg had a couple stories [to tell.] He told me about Hardee’s closing and said, ‘You can’t get cinnamon rolls any more.’ He was all about that siren!”
Following Melton’s lead came a second Morrison squad and a third support vehicle; Village of Albany Chief Heyvaert’s squad; a Morrison Fire Department Brush Truck. Fireman Tony Belha drove; Fireman Brian Tichler attended the event with his father, retired MFD volunteer, Arlyn. Bright lights pierced the misty morning sprinkles, and sirens helped “to wake up Morrison.”
Shown left-to-right are Deputy Sheriff and Canine Handler Rollie Elder; Police Officer Mike Moon; Police Officer Dan Simmons; Morrison Police Chief Brian Melton; Brad Weets holding Jeg; Jenna Weets with Claire; Albany Police Chief Wyatt Heyvaert; Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Kris Schmidt; Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sean Coutts.
There is a fund in place with Triumph Community Bank, to accept donations toward Jeg’s medical expenses. Any Triumph Community Bank can accept donations to “Jeg’s Fight Against NPC.” He receives an expensive, experimental drug at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL.
Learn more about the Weets family at https://www.facebook.com/Jegs-Fight-Against-NPC-172515156848656/.