Mountain Lakes 5-Year-Old Crowned Hero For A Day

A 5-year-old girl from Mountain Lakes was honored last Friday with the title, "Hero for a Day," by the Morris County Sheriff's Office, for her bravery while fighting a serious illness.

Members of the Mountain Lakes Police Department and Mountain Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, Sheriff Edward Rochford, and Undersheriff William Schievella picked up Juliet Nigara from her home last Friday and treated her to a day fit for a young hero. Firefighters gave her the opportunity to use a fire hose to shoot water up into the air. The police department also gave her the experience of operating a patrol car.

On the same day, Juliet and her family were given a tour of the Morris County Courthouse, and all came to order in Juliet's court! Morris County Superior Court Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz allowed her to don his judicial robes and bang the gavel to bring court to order.

Juliet also had the pleasure of seeing the Sheriff’s K-9 Unit in action and had a special tour of the Sheriff’s Office. After a day enjoying the offices and spaces of other heroes in the county, like police officers and fire personnel, Juliet ate cake and had a formal “Walkout Ceremony."

The Hero for a Day program is a partnership between the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Atlantic Health Systems, and partners with local law enforcement and emergency service agencies to provide an opportunity for seriously ill children to be specially recognized and enjoy a unique experience.

“This unique program helps to brighten the lives of seriously ill children by allowing them to meet real life heroes from public safety. We are proud to work with Morris County law enforcement, fire departments and EMS to help these families,” said Undersheriff William Schievella, who coordinates the program.

Image via Sheriff Rochford's office, used with permission.