In the spring of 2006, LAPD Detective Mike Berchem was hired as a technical advisor for the new television series The Closer. During his time on set, he became friends with one of the show’s lead actors, G.W. Bailey, who played the character of Lieutenant Louie Provenza.
One day, Bailey jokingly approached Berchem and said, “OK, Big City Detective — I need a favor from you.” He then explained that he served as the executive director of an organization called The Sunshine Kids Foundation.
Each September, The Sunshine Kids brings together 30 young people from across North America for a weeklong trip to Los Angeles. All of the children are either cancer survivors or currently undergoing treatment. They stay at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Studio City and spend their days exploring Southern California, enjoying fun and uplifting adventures.
Bailey’s request was simple but heartfelt: “Can we get a black-and-white and a couple of officers to show up at Raleigh Studios during the visit, so these kids can meet real officers and see the inside of a real police cruiser? Let’s see how much pull you really have.”
In response to Bailey’s lighthearted challenge — and knowing it deserved an appropriately impactful response — Detective Berchem reached out to his close friend, Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, who was serving as acting chief at the time. The two discussed the idea, and at the conclusion of their meeting, Chief McDonnell assigned Sergeant Ralph Morales to take the lead in making it happen.
THE FIRST LAPD SUNSHINE KIDS DAY (2006)
The plan that emerged was ambitious. The LAPD would gather on the top level of the Sheraton Universal Hotel parking structure for a short ceremony. Then, the Sunshine Kids would ride in a motorcade of LAPD black-and-white patrol vehicles in a “slow Code 3” escort from the hotel to Raleigh Studios in Hollywood.
Sergeant Morales contacted Reserve Officer David Bush and asked him to coordinate with other LAPD reserve officers. The goal was to assemble at least 15 clean black-and-white units — each with soft seats to accommodate the children comfortably. Officer Bush sent out a call for assistance via email, and responses came quickly. Reserve Officers John Matthews and Gary Kennedy were among the first to step up.
With less than two weeks to plan, the CRS/OCOP team and the LAPD Reserve Corps successfully pulled the event together. That Thursday, all participants arrived on time, and the event proved to be an overwhelming success.
The dedication of the many LAPD reserve officers, the hospitality of the Sheraton Universal Hotel and the cooperation of the West Traffic Division were all instrumental in making the day unforgettable for the Sunshine Kids.
THE EVOLUTION OF LAPD SUNSHINE KIDS DAY
The above narrative outlines the origins and development of LAPD’s partnership with The Sunshine Kids Foundation. This heartfelt event was originally coordinated by Reserve Officer Dave Bush, who proudly served the LAPD for 28 and a half years before retiring in 2023. Officer Bush managed the event from 2006 through 2015.
In 2015, he formally passed the torch to Senior Lead Officer Joe Orlanes and his team at CRS/OCOP while preserving the original structure: a ceremony at the Sheraton Universal Hotel parking structure, followed by a Code 3 motorcade — with full escort — culminating at Raleigh Studios.
This tradition continued uninterrupted until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic required a pause. Afterward, the Code 3 ride for the children was no longer approved under revised safety policies.
REIMAGINING THE TRADITION: THE JUNIOR BADGE CEREMONY
In 2021, to continue this longstanding partnership between the LAPD and The Sunshine Kids Foundation, the event was reimagined into a stationary format: the Junior Badge Ceremony, held at the LAPD Elysian Park Academy Field.
The revised event begins with the children arriving by tour bus. Upon disembarking, they are greeted with a celebratory “welcome gauntlet” of reserve officers who cheer and escort them to the seating area in front of the police mural, where the ceremony is staged.
Once seated, LAPD Command Staff act as the masters of ceremonies, beginning with the singing of the national anthem and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The program then transitions to the introduction of Chief Jim McDonnell, who conducts the swearing-in ceremony. The children raise their right hands to take the Junior Police Officer Oath, and each child has the opportunity to take a commemorative photo with the Chief.
After the ceremony, the children enjoy interactive experiences across the field, including:
- SWAT vehicle displays
- K9 Unit demonstrations
- Dive Team presentations
- Communications and TID forensics exhibits
- Metro Mounted Unit
- A landed LAPD airship
- Lunch and time to explore the Academy grounds
THE 2025 LAPD SUNSHINE KIDS DAY WITH CHIEF JIM MCDONNELL
The 2025 event was joyful and successful — made even more special by the presence of Chief Jim McDonnell, who had helped launch the first Sunshine Kids Day in 2006. Nearly 20 years later, in 2025, Chief McDonnell returned to once again bring smiles to the faces of these brave young individuals.
In a memorable moment, Chief McDonnell stayed after the event and spent more than an hour personally engaging with the children — the longest any LAPD Chief has ever remained on site following the ceremony. When we spoke with the Chief during the event, he expressed his continued commitment to this meaningful and longstanding tradition.