5-Year-Old Son of Fallen Officer Is Escorted by 70 Cops on His First Day Back in School

After his dad died in the line of duty, a little boy struggled to cope with the loss. Still reeling with emotions, he asked his mom if one of his father’s friends could drive him to school. Little did he know that not one but 70 officers would turn up in his support.

On May 4, 2018, police officer Rob Pitts from Terre Haute, Indiana, died during a shootout at an apartment complex where an armed murder suspect had reportedly barricaded himself.

Pitts was injured after the 21-year-old suspect, Christopher Wolfe, opened fire from the building’s second floor. He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. Wolfe was also pronounced dead in the shootout.

Dakota Pitts walked to school while officers lined up to support him | Source: YouTube.com/CBS Evening News

Remembering the Fallen Officer

Pitt, 45, left behind two sons and a daughter and was the first officer killed in the line of duty since 2011. The Terre Haute Police Department grieved the loss of one of their beloved officers, with Ryan Adamson stating:

“Rob is deeply missed, but we are grateful for the time we had with him. Thank you for your continued prayers.”

Dakota Pitts with his mother. | Source: YouTube.com/CBS Evening News

Missing His Dad

Pitts’ little son, Dakota, was significantly impacted by his father’s irreparable loss. The daddy-son duo shared a profound connection that ran so deep that the youngster even wrote a message, hoping his dad would see it in heaven.

Indeed, it was heartwarming to see 70 police officers line up in honor of little Dakota, who had one heartfelt dream.

Dakota’s mother shared her son’s heartfelt message: “Dear dad, I love you and miss you so much.” She also shared that her sweet boy looked up to his father and even followed in his footsteps, receiving challenge coins for his acts of kindness.

Dakota Pitts shows his challenge coins collection | Source: YouTube.com/CBS Evening News

A Special Request

A week after his father’s death, Dakota, who hoped to wear the uniform someday and catch the bad guys like his late dad, didn’t want to go alone on his first day back to school. He ran to his mom with a special request.

Dakota asked her if one of his father’s friends could drive him to school. The mom didn’t let her lovely boy down and reached out to his dad’s peers to help fulfill Dakota’s innocent wish. What happened next was something that nobody saw coming.

Truly Unexpected

About 70 Terre Haute and Vigo County Sheriff’s deputies lined the entrance of Sullivan Elementary School in Western Indiana, welcoming Dakota as he walked in wearing a yellow backpack and his father’s police shield around his neck.

The police officers came from Terre Haute, where Dakota’s dad served as a cop. One of the officers warmly greeted the five-year-old boy, “Welcome back to school, bud.”

Moreover, SWAT officers honored Dakota with his very own shirt and badge and made him an honorary member of his dad’s Special Response Team. Rob’s sister, Kelli Jones, thanked the police officers for supporting the youngster when he needed it the most.

The Youngster’s Reaction

When Dakota was asked how he felt about the grand surprise on his first day back to school, he shyly responded, “I was super duper surprised, and I loved it.” He further mentioned that everyone at school was kind to him and made him feel great.

Sullivan Elementary principal, Samantha Phegley, shared her deepest condolences with Dakota’s family and thanked his late father’s police family for supporting him on his first day back to school. She added:

“Our hope is that Dakota’s first day back to school after his father’s passing is one that he will remember forever and that he will always know how much his father’s sacrifice meant to all of us.”

Like Father, Like Son

Indeed, it was heartwarming to see 70 police officers line up in honor of little Dakota, who had one heartfelt dream: “I don’t want to be a hero; I want to be a police officer,” he expressed.

Regardless of who you become when you grow up, sweet boy, your dad will always be proud of you. May God grant eternal peace to the fallen officer and give his loved ones strength and courage to bear his loss.

Click here to read another story about a five-year-old daughter of a fallen officer who got the sweetest police escort on her first day in kindergarten.