By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

Six-year-old Joel Mims of Clanton made a memory for the books on Oct. 10 when he visited Sheriff John Shearon as “Sheriff for the Evening.”

Joel’s grandparents Randal and Dale Mims arranged the meeting.

Joel is a student at East Memorial Christian Academy in Prattville, and according to his grandmother, he has dreamed of working in law enforcement for the majority of his young years.

It would seem Joel’s visit to the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office only confirmed his dream.

Joel arrived for his visit with Shearon, outfitted in a police officer costume and sticker sheriff badge, which Dale Mims said he plans to wear for Halloween.

When asked what he wanted to be when he grows up, Joel responded, “The same thing I just met.”

Joel was grinning wide and hugging a teddy bear gifted to him by Shearon.

Joel said he named the stuffed animal “Sheriff.”

While the family visited with each other in the Clanton Courthouse hallway, Joel had a spontaneous photo op with Probate Judge Bobby Martin. It was icing on the cake.