Bonney Lake Meets its First 7-Year-Old Police Chief

William Knight is officially the newest and youngest honorary member of the Bonney Lake Police Department.

The 7 year-old Emerald Hills student looked tiny in BLPD Officer Todd Green’s uniform and Chief Dana Powers’ police chief cap, but he stood tall in front of the BLPD Citizen’s Academy class on April 17.

Knight was introduced to the group and City Council that evening as Bonney Lake Police “Chief for a Day.” He will represent the city at the regional event and will serve as grand marshal of the Bonney Lake Days parade this August.

The regional Chief for a Day celebration is scheduled for Aug. 16 at the WA State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien. The all-day event will bring students from around the region together to play games, watch police demonstrations and meet professional athletes and cheerleaders. There will even be a special helicopter landing and pinning ceremony, honoring the young chiefs.

Students were selected as “Chief for a Day” by overcoming life-threatening illnesses at a young age. (We profiled in February).

Knight was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a rare condition caused by the combination of four heart defects present at birth. The defects affect the structure of the heart and cause oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and into the rest of the body.

Today, Knight is an active and happy 7 year-old boy, but he will have to face heart surgery again in about 10 years when his body outgrows the valves in place.

“It is what it is, this is the only reality our family has ever known so it’s normal for us,” said Rachael Knight, William’s mom.

Knight enjoys bike riding, building beach forts with his mother, father and brother, 4 year-old Phillip. His favorite part of the school day is recess.

“He really fits the bill of what we were looking for,” said Green, who is also the school's resource officer. “His teachers were really impressed with him and thought he would enjoy this.”

It’s the first year of the program in Bonney Lake and Police Chief Dana Powers thinks Knight is the perfect chief to kick off the new town tradition.

“I plan to take lots of vacation this summer and I think William is ready to step in,” Powers joked.

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Bonney Lake is accepting donations to help pay for William Knight’s significant medical bills and fulfill his “wish list.” Donations can be dropped off at the Bonney Lake Police Department or at Key Bank.