Virginia boy inspires law enforcement by collecting patches from his heroes

BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) — At just six-years-old, Jase Groseclose has a pretty good idea on what he wants to be when he's older.

"U.S. Marshal, firefighter, police, and Texas ranger," says Groseclose.

His mom, Sara, says he dresses as a police officer almost everyday.

"He just loves anything police, it’s what he asks for all the time."

Recently at Groseclose's sixth birthday party, he got a surprise from Bristol, Virginia Sheriff Tyrone Foster, who gave him a patch from the agency.

Ever since then ... he carried it around and he wanted me to sew it on something of his," His mother recalled. "I said, 'Well, no, we’re going to put it up. That's special, not everyone has a patch.

That one patch has since turned into around 50 patches from local law enforcement agencies. Groseclose even has some from across the U.S. and the globe.

"We’ve had quite a bit, honestly he’s got more than I thought he would, it’s been a really good response so far," his mother added.

It has even included some surprise visits from the agencies, like the Bluff City Police Department in Tennessee.

Officer Nathaniel Hawthorne with the BCPD said Groseclose is "an inspiration, it’s something that you don’t see everyday."

Whenever I gave him the patch, and he opened the door and just to see the smile on his face to see us show up, it was amazing,"Hawthorne added.

Fire stations have even got involved as well, including the Washington County, Virginia Fire Department.

"It means the world, anything to help the community, kids look up and find a career they want to do, and just make it special for them," said Assistant Fire Chief Marty Lewis.

Groseclose's ultimate goal now is to get a patch from every department in the United States.

"I hope we break 100 at least," his mother said.

"Whenever I can grow up, I can see what country I’m going to work at, and I can just put it on my shirt," adds Jase.