A little boy is making headlines after he secretly called 911 on Thanksgiving Day to invite local police officers over for dinner.
Billy Nolin, 5, made the now viral phone call to authorities without notifying his parents, though local police in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, were apparently elated to receive the heartwarming call — and responded accordingly.
“A little boy melted all the hearts in Walton County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center today ,” Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr. said on his Facebook page. “Walton County resident ‘Billy’ called 911 this afternoon to invite WCSO staff/deputies to come eat Thanksgiving dinner with him and his family.”
The family discovered Billy had made the call when his grandfather noticed the little boy talking on an old cell phone, and asked what he was doing. According to the Panama City News Herald, the child told emergency personnel the following after he dialed: “Will you come over cause we’re eating Thanksgiving. Thank you. Bye.”
At first, Billy’s grandfather and mother reprimanded the little boy, telling him he should only call 911 in an emergency situation. Billy reportedly ended up in tears — but then Deputes Dannon Byrd and Aaron Ethridge showed up at the house.
Rather than reprimand Billy, they thanked him for the invite, let him sit in their patrol car and play with the sirens and lights — and reminded him to only call 911 when there’s an emergency, according to The Associated Press.
They also gave Billy a sheriff’s badge, making for a memorable day for both him and his family. The sheriffs office said it doesn’t encourage this use of 911, but was incredibly touched and honored by Billy’s invitation.
“With all the bad calls we take on a daily basis this one was a welcomed happy call that made all of us smile,” communications Officer Monica Webster said in a statement, later adding, “Thank you Billy for making all of our days here at WCSO.”
Billy told the Panama City News Herald he initially invited the cops over so that they, too, could enjoy his favorite dessert.
“I wanted them to have cheesecake with us,” he said. “It’s my favorite, so I wanted them to have some, too.”
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