The Powers of Spotswood
2-year-old battling rare disease becomes honorary officer
n by Jason Cohen
On March 20, the Spotswood City Council reached the
point during its monthly meeting when it was time to swear
in the town’s new law enforcement officers. The council
chamber was at standing-room-only capacity with elected
officials, residents and officers in anticipation of a local hero
about to join the force.
Trent Powers came up to take the oath. He was given his
star – badge number 50 – and a special Spotswood PD uni-
form. And then this turned into a historic and unprecedent-
ed night.
Trent Powers is two years old. He is battling Duchenne
Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare, incurable disease.
Spotswood Local 225 started a special fundraiser to help
Trent, and it culminated with him becoming the first-ever
honorary officer in the history of the department.
“He’s one of us now, so as he grows older, we’ll be there
for him,” Local 225 President Adam Sabatino said. “A lot of
Newly sworn-in Officer Trent Powers receives his badge from Spotswood
Police Chief Michael Zarro.
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ April 2017
people think it’s all tickets, arrests and handcuffs, but it’s not.
This is what our job is.”
In addition to the badge and uniform, Trent received
handcuffs, a duty belt and a replica patrol vehicle. He also
was taken on a tour of the police station, where he ran in and
out of every room.
“For a two-year-old boy that has a fatal disease you would
never think that,” Sabatino added. “It was great to see him
with all smiles and high hopes.”
DMD affects one in every 3,600 babies (primarily boys)
born each year. The disease causes progressive muscle
weakness that ultimately leads to life-threatening heart and
lung complications. The average lifespan of a child suffering
from DMD is mid-to-late 20s.
Trent attends therapy three to four times a week, and that
will only increase as he grows older. He is constantly visiting
doctors across the nation for the best treatment possible.
According to Sabatino, Local 225 members first heard
about Trent when Officer Ricky Drude saw a tribute for him
during a Rutgers University football game. He immediately
brought this to the attention of Chief Michael Zarro, and the
department jumped at the opportunity to help.
“We had it in the back of our minds, and the chief said,
‘Let’s find another cause to raise money for’,” Sabatino com-
mented.
The department and the Local participate in “Movember,”
the annual November event when officers do not shave to
raise money and awareness for prostate and testicular can-
cer. But this past December, Local 225 launched “Winter
Wool” for Powers, which ran from Jan. 1 to March. Spots-
wood and Helmetta officers, who make up Local 225, along
with help from East Brunswick Local 145 and South River
Local 62, raised $3,000.