Long Island Boy Becomes Sheriff For A Day

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A Long Island cancer survivor was surprised with a day of fun, and power.

The 12-year-old was put in charge of a local sheriff's department.

"I beat cancer," Douglas Grimmett said.

Douglas is commonly known as "survivor." But Tuesday, he went by "sheriff."

"I'm going on out of patrol," he said.

The Leukemia & Lymphona Society joined forces with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department office to help make Grimmett sheriff for a day.

The man gave up his title? A survivor as well.

"I'm a two-time cancer survivor myself. I've survived lymphoma and pacreatic cancer and so to meet a young man that has gone through this at such an early age in his life, it's really an inspiration to me. And we really wanted to give him a great day," said Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr.

Douglas and his little brother Ben got to ride along in a patrol car, take a trip on the Land and Sea Marine Unit and even watch a K9 demonstration.

"I don't know what my favorite is. I liked it all!" Douglas said. "It means a lot to me."

Douglas has been healthy for three years now.

In May of 2013, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He immediately began chemo, and officially beat it in 2016.

"It was a long road. You never really know what you're going to get. There were times he was really sick and there were times he felt good, but he didn't know he was as sick as he was... it's been a roller coaster, a life-changing event," parents Bridget and Adam Grimmett told CBS2's Jessica Layton.

But Douglas came out stronger on the other side, and is sharing his story, inspiring others fighting similar battles.

"Never, ever give up," he said.

Together, Sheriff Toulon and Douglas hope they can encourage others to keep their heads up, and one day, become success stories as well.