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Officers escort son of fallen Terre Haute officer to school on his first day back after dad's death

Posted at 8:03 PM, May 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-15 16:43:40-04

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The young son of a fallen Terre Haute police officer learned just how large of a family he now has when dozens of officers showed up to take him to school on his first day back after his father's death. 

Dakota Pitts, 5, is the son of Terre Haute Officer Rob Pitts who was shot and killed in the line of duty more than a week ago. 

Dakota returned to school Monday in Sullivan for the first time since his father's death and told his mother he didn't want to go alone. He wore his father's badge around his neck. 

READ | Terre Haute officer killed in shootout honored as a hero

"Dakota asked his mom if one of his dad's friends could take him to school," said Officer Les Hamm with the Terre Haute Police Department. "So she reached out to Rob's friends and families."

More than 70 officers turned out to welcome Dakota back to school. 

The SWAT Team also presented Dakota with his own SWAT shirt and badge. 

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