Moments after Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy swore in Make-A-Wish Northeast New York wish kid Connor as an honorary police officer, Police Chief Eric Clifford apologized to the teen a day shy of his 15^th birthday. He had to get moving: He was needed on a case.

“But after you finish your breakfast,” he added.

Connor and his partner for a day, Sgt. Jeffrey McCutcheon, soon headed to Nott Memorial on the campus of Union College to investigate an “art theft.” Connor pored over the crime scene, finding a footprint and fragment of clothing. He took notes while being briefed by the first officers on the scene.

By lunch, the partners had cracked the case and apprehended the perpetrator.

How did they solve the crime so fast? “Evidence … and good police work,” said Connor, sporting his own Schenectady Police uniform.

In the early afternoon, Connor returned the stolen art personally to Union College President David Harris, arriving back on campus in style: by State Police helicopter.

Connor’s wish to be a police officer had been waylaid for more than a year by the pandemic. To see it finally come true, and the dozens upon dozens of people who helped make it a reality, was overwhelming to wish mom Breanna.

“For me as a parent, to see my child's wish be fulfilled and made real for him … it’s so important. So important,” she said. “Every parent wants to see their child’s wish be fulfilled.”

Mayor McCarthy presented Connor a proclamation naming the late August day in his honor in Schenectady. Rob and Theresa Roemer served as the wish granters.

Connor said the best part of the day was riding in the police cars and helicopters. For the officers – and there were dozens milling about Connor throughout the day – the wish highlighted why they became police officers in the first place: helping others.

At the end of his shift, Connor was told he would still be part of Schenectady Police.

“While your wish was to be an officer for a day, you’re now part of our family,” Chief Clifford said. “You’re going to forever be welcomed by our police department. It’s not ‘police officer for a day,’ it’s now, 'You’re a police officer for life’.”