Twin Cities police department uplifts new recruit after breast cancer diagnosis
CRYSTAL, Minn. — At the Crystal Police Department, compassion is key.
When one of their newest recruits learned that she had Stage 3 breast cancer, the department rallied around her.
Following the diagnosis, Officer Daniella Romo said that she was disappointed.
"I think that was the first reaction," Romo said. "Dang it. Not now."
A career social worker, she'd just realized her dream of becoming an officer. Now, instead of fighting crime, she would be fighting cancer. She was at work when she got the call.
"All of the things that are flashing before your eyes right now became very apparent as she and I were sitting together," said Crystal Police Department Deputy Chief Brian Hubbard.
So the department banded together, swapping out to new badges to support Romo.
"We are gonna do it til she's done with this fight, so it's authorized for everybody to wear as they'd like to until she comes back and says 'I'm cancer free,'" Hubbard said.
Romo was overcome with emotion when she saw the badges.
"Oh man, I don't want to cry," Romo said. "There they were reaching out to me my husband, 'What do you guys need?' A meal train bringing meals by every day. 'Do you need me to take care of the kiddos on Saturday?'"
"She's doing the fight, and if we can help make that fight easier, more palatable, more encouraging for her, then I think we're obligated to do that," Hubbard said.
The police department also donated 1,000 hours of leave time so she can still get paid.
"Just the fact that they really stood by me, it means the world to me," she said. "It really helped me keep going in some dark days, and I just want to say thank you to them."
Romo says that she calls the officers at the police department, "My family in blue, my blue fam." Even now, when dressed in pink.