Lorain police replace boy's toy cruiser

LORAIN — A 5-year-old boy had few words, but lots of hugs, for the Lorain police officers who brought him a new electric police cruiser Friday morning. Braylon Bellisario, 5, was heartbroken when his miniature Dodge Charger police cruiser was crushed by a tree limb in a recent storm, his mother Valerie Bellisario said. The tree has been an issue for the family for years, previously taking out the netting around their trampoline. "We heard this big boom and went in the back and one of the big branches fell and smashed his police car," she said. "Out of everything in the backyard, it fell on his police car." She told her boss about it, who reached out to Lorain police Chief Jim McCann about replacing Braylon's car with a mini LPD cruiser. "It was very generous that they took time out of their schedule to make my son happy," she said, watching Braylon and his brother drive down the sidewalk in the car. "I'm very appreciative." Braylon's father, Michael Barnette, thanked Bellisario's uncle, Sgt. Buddy Sivert, for helping get the new car. "Everybody was nervous, but we knew it was coming," Barnette said. He plans to walk with Braylon while the 5-year-old "patrols" the neighborhood. The Fraternal Order of Police Lorain Lodge No. 3 donated about $400 to buy the car from Kohl's, then took it to the city garage for decals to match those on the city's full-size cruisers, McCann explained. It took about two weeks for the car to come in, and then be outfitted, before a parade of blue brought Braylon his new wheels. McCann said it was important to help the boy as a 'thank you' for the support the 5-year-old always gives to officers passing by. "We know with the sentiment right now across the country about law enforcement, we know we don't have those issues in Lorain, but we know the little fella he loves police and firefighters so we thought we'd try to make him whole by showing our appreciation for his support." That support — for the city's police and fire departments — is something that started when Braylon first started walking, Bellisario said. "Everywhere we go he sees police he wants to hug them, high five them," she said. "He'll stand outside and he'll wave to them. He just loves the fact that they protect people and that's what he wants to do when he gets older." Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.