70 police officers escort five-year-old boy back to school after father dies in line of duty

Five-year-old Dakota Pitts didn't want to return to school alone

A five-year-old boy returned to school with a surprise police escort after his dad died in the line of duty.

Dakota Pitts, from Indiana, was nervous to return to school after he’d lost his father, Terre Haute police officer Rob Pitts, a week earlier - so he asked his mum if one of his dad’s friends could accompany him.

Responding to his plea, not one but 70 Indiana police officers showed up to comfort Dakota on his first day back.

And the police officers weren’t just from the Terre Haute police department - officers from surrounding departments also showed up to show their support for Dakota.

Les Hamm, a detective with Terre Haute police department told WTHI: "Dakota asked his mum if one of his dad's friends could take him to school so she reached out to Rob's friends and families.”

In the moving video, Dakota walks through the line of officers to Sullivan Primary School while proudly wearing his father’s police badge.

“Welcome back to school, bud,” one officer greeted him.

And to make the day a little easier, SWAT officers brought gifts for Dakota, including his very own SWAT shirt and badge.

SWAT officers presented Dakota with his very own SWAT shirt (WTHI-TV)

Of the emotional display of support, Dakota’s aunt, Kelly Jones, told WTHI: “He will definitely know his dad was a hero. Blood doesn’t always make family. And I think the blue family went above and beyond.”

The sweet gesture also moved people on social media, where the video has been viewed over 261,000 times.

“Absolutely beautiful of them,” one person wrote.