She's a trooper

Look out, bad guys.

A new state trooper is in town.

Hayden 7-year-old Jaicey Lupton, who loves police and firefighters, is now an honorary member of the Idaho State Police after an extra special swearing-in ceremony Tuesday afternoon.

"Being able to honor a young lady who supports the first responder community is something we are all willing to celebrate," ISP Cpl. Michelle Beach said.

Jaicey is battling an undiagnosed terminal illness that was first discovered when she was 2. She has undergone countless procedures and tests, but no doctor can pinpoint what has caused her to suffer aneurysms and strokes. She is scheduled for more heavy duty surgeries at the end of June.

"A week after her triple brain bypass, she'll need a second brain surgery for a new aneurysm that's formed in the last two months in the front of her brain," Jaicey's mom, Jessica Lupton, explained. "She stroked June 23 two years ago and calcified the carotid arteries in the front of her brain, so she only has one left. We have to do open brain surgery to reach that."

Doctors are unsure if the surgery will help, or what the outcome will be.

"The doctors don't know why the brain is doing what it's doing," Jessica said. "She's with Baylor Clinic. She's in a national database, but they say unfortunately, it won't save her. It will save the next child."

The young patient wants to be a state trooper, or what she calls "the top detective," so she can find all the unicorns and mermaids.

Her grandfather "Rat Rod" Chuck Lupton asked ISP if they could do something special for Jaicey. Beach, who coordinated the special event, said Lt. Allen Ashby approached her and said, "Let's make it as big as we can."

The ceremony began when at least 30 law enforcement vehicles, tricked-out Jeeps and rumbling rat rods paraded in front of Jaicey's house as sirens and flashing lights announced their arrival.

ISP Trooper Kristen Noah parked her cruiser by the driveway and presented Jaicey with her own trooper uniform. Jaicey immediately turned to her brothers to give them a warning.

"If you ever high-speed, I will arrest you forever," she said to them, grinning.

Noah escorted Jaicey to the ISP District 1 office, where her friends and loved ones joined dozens of uniformed men and women as she received her very own ISP trooper hat.

"Jaicey has already had too many surgeries, hospital visits, aneurysms and Life Flight trip than any average 7-year-old has ever experienced," Beach said to the crowd.

She said a first responder's day is often filled with doom, gloom, bad news and angry people.

"Jaicey, we are pleased, honored and proud to be doing this today," Beach said. "We are so happy to welcome you with open arms into our first responder family."

Jaicey solemnly lifted her left hand as Capt. John Kempf kneeled to swear her in with the oath of honor.

"'I will continue to help others when they need help, and I will always have the courage to brave the unknown,'" he read to her. "'I will work to bring honor to this office and this title and I will faithfully support the duties of my family in blue. I will keep fighting and continue to remain hopeful and resolve that I will be healed.'"

Kempf then awarded Jaicey the Trooper Bravery Medal. He began with a Nelson Mandela quote.

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave girl is not she who does not feel afraid, but she who conquers that fear," Kempf spoke into a microphone at the front of the ceremony.

"The Trooper Bravery Medal is for the trooper that acts above and beyond the level of normal duty expected of officers during high hazardous activities and shows conspicuous bravery," he said, looking over to Jaicey. "I present this to you today, Jaicey Lupton."

Grandpa Lupton was brought to tears by the show of support and encouragement for his granddaughter.

"She's a fighter, she's trying to stay alive and to see my family going through this is really tough," he said. "For people to step up, show their support and be there for them is really nice. I really respect that."

Jaicey's dad, Joshua, said he was thankful everyone came out for her.

"She gets to experience something and be happy about it," he said. "She was really excited. I think she was more excited about being able to arrest her brothers."

Jessica said she felt super grateful.

"This is awesome for her. We've tried to help her fulfill everything that she's ever wanted," Jessica said. "Grateful is the only word that I have. When you're thankful for something, it's hard when you're as thankful as we are right now. You just can't find words for it."