Five-year-old Riley Cottongim received a special police welcome for his first day of kindergarten.
Good Morning America (GMA) reported on the emotional Kentucky scene after about two dozen Louisville Metro Police officers greeted him outside the school in the area where his father served before being killed in the line of duty.
The Louisville Metro Police Department celebrated the event by posting pictures to Facebook and writing, “Riley has a great support system in place and we hope he has a great day today!!!”
According to police records, Riley’s father, “Officer Zachary Cottongim was struck and killed by an automobile as he attended to a wrecked vehicle on the side of I-64 West near the Mellwood Avenue exit.”
This occurred on Dec. 18, 2021. But Cottongim’s brothers and sisters in blue have not forgotten his family.
His wife and Riley’s mother, Jamie Cottongim, told GMA she was shocked to see the officers present for Riley’s first day of school.
She said, “He had an amazing day. He told me it was the best day ever.”
“His teacher also told me that by the time he got to class he had the biggest smile on his face,” she added.
Jamie Cottongim also noted how her husband was “so excited” about Riley starting school and often looked forward to it.
She noted how difficult it had been preparing their son for kindergarten without her husband.
Knowing this, a group of the officer’s wives coordinated with his former partner, Donna Morgan, to make Riley’s first day of school a happy event.
Morgan said, “We as a squad just literally were there to bring that idea to fruition.”
She went on, “We really want to ensure his sons always know how much he loved them, and that if he were here, he would be the one that was present for these moments.”