A nine-year-old lad whose police officer dad died of Covid recently was supported and walked into school for his first day back by his dad’s colleagues.
Jason Swanger, 41, passed away last month leaving his wife Christa Swanger, 45 and their son Noah, nine, grieving.
He would walk his son into school every day – making Noah’s first morning back as he head into fourth grade extra hard.
But Jason’s colleagues at Las Vegas Police Department stepped up and met him outside his home in their patrol cars.
Two of Jason’s squad members, Brennan Childers and Don Sutton, drove him to school, and proudly walked him through the gates, supporting him on the tough day.
A moving video shows Christa, a stay-at-home mum, telling the officers Noah is wearing a tie because he is “the man of the house now”.
She said: “Jason’s squad have been through it all, constantly texting and calling us to make sure were doing okay.
“On his birthday the whole squad came over to give him presents and spend the day with us which was really special.
“They’ve really been there when it counts, and their support means so much to us.”
Christa, who was married to Jason for 13 years, said she hopes it shows not all police officers are “bad apples”.
“It is nice to spread some positivity about the work police officers do,” she said.
“I think people sometime forget that they’re people under those uniforms and I think the video really helps humanise policeman and their badge.”
Jason, who worked as a field training officer has inspired Noah to become a police officer himself when he grows up.
The schoolboy said: “I was very surprised when I came out the garage and the police officers were there.
“I felt overwhelmed, but I was excited at the same time to go to school with them.
“I’ve wanted to be a police officer for a long time, and this made me want to be one even more.”
The clip was filmed in Las Vegas on August 9.