Fresno Police captain gives badge to son during swearing in ceremony 

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The Fresno Police Department is increasing erstwhile again, with a promotion and swearing-in ceremony. 

"That badge that's getting pinned onto you contiguous is not your badge; it belongs to the folks retired present successful the audience," Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said portion speaking during the ceremony. 

Getting pinned is simply a large grant for each of the recruits, but for 1 enlistee and his family, it meant a small more. 

Capt. Joe Alvarez and his son, Tyler, shared a peculiar infinitesimal during Tuesday's ceremony, erstwhile Alvarez, a 26-year seasoned of the department, was capable to manus his lad a badge. 

"It's not astir pursuing successful my footsteps. It's astir him blazing his ain path," Capt. Alvarez said. 

He recalled the infinitesimal during his son's elder twelvemonth of precocious schoolhouse erstwhile helium realized his lad had go captivated by joining the force. 

"I made the mistake of taking him connected a ride-along. And aft that, yeah, it was known," Capt. Alvarez said. 

His lad is inactive conscionable arsenic excited astir the occupation present arsenic helium was backmost then.

"I felt a calling that the occupation inactive needs to beryllium done. People inactive request to beryllium helped," Tyler said. 

And that calling, starring him to enactment alongside his father, symbolized their enslaved arsenic begetter and lad and arsenic colleagues erstwhile Capt. Alvarez handed his lad a badge. 

Tyler says having his dada bent him the badge made an already important infinitesimal transportation adjacent much weight. 

"I was conscionable overfilled with joy, seeing the arrogant look connected his face, connected everyone's face," Tyler said. 

And this moment, portion filled with joyousness implicit what his son's accomplished, is inactive humbling for Capt. Alvarez. He knows firsthand what it's similar for an serviceman connected the streets. He gave his lad important proposal arsenic helium started his caller travel with the department. 

"We person a noble assemblage wherever radical person sacrificed. And what I told him was that this badge is much than conscionable a awesome of our authority, but it's the spot of the community," Capt. Alvarez said. "Always beryllium honest. It's good to consciousness and person a enactment radical that you tin thin on."