Two weeks after Terre Haute police officer Rob Pitts was slain in the line of duty, his 5-year-old son returned to school Monday morning and received a surprise greeting from 70 of his father’s coworkers.
Police officer Rob Pitts, who had served as a policeman for 16 years, was shot and killed in a shoot-out with a possible homicide suspect at an apartment complex in Indiana, Fox News reports. (RELATED: Trump Calls For Death Penalty For Cop Killers)
Following his death, Pitts’ 5-year-old son, Dakota spent most of his time sitting by his dads police cruiser, Fox 59 reports. A memorial was displayed on the car outside of the family’s house.
After a two-week absence from school, Dakota requested some of his father’s friends take him to school in his dad’s police cruiser, as the car is a symbolic connection to is late dad, WTHI reports. (RELATED: President Trump Slams ‘Anti-Police Prejudice’)
The officers encouraged him on as he exited the cruiser and walked down the sidewalk towards his school building.
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Once he arrived at the end of the long line, one officer presented him with a t-shirt.
“All the guys on SWAT have one, and now you have one too” the officer said as he handed Dakota the shirt.
All of the officers in attendance gave Dakota a round of applause as he concluded his walk and entered the school building