TyLon Pittman was 5 years old when he decided that someone had to stop the Grinch.
In Jackson, Mississippi, the boy had just watched “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and was so upset that he called 911 to ask them to arrest him before he ruined the holidays. His mother, TeResa, thought it was a joke, until nearly an hour later, someone knocked on the door: it was Officer Lauren Develle, from the Byram Police Department, looking for the boy who had reported the holiday villain.
TyLon showed her the video on his phone and explained, very seriously, why the Grinch was dangerous. Develle promised him that she would not let the Grinch steal Christmas, but the boy remained uneasy. Two days later, the entire police station invited him to help “lock him up” in a real cell. TyLon closed the door with his own hands, rode in a patrol car, and received a gift from Chief Luke Thompson: an open invitation to apply to become a police officer when he turns 21.