Army of police escorts boy to first day of school after he lost his police officer dad

When it came to the first-day of school for 4-year-old Jackson Scherlen, he didn’t have his father by his side. But Jackson didn’t have to walk up to the doors of his new school alone, he was accompanied by an “army of stand-ins.”

His father’s colleagues in the Amarillo Police Department in Texas escorted Jackson to his first day of preschool.

“He was shocked when he first showed up and saw everything,” Jackson’s mother, Jessica Scherlen told CNN affiliate KVII. “I think Jackson really enjoyed having everyone there. Just to know that he’s still loved by the blue family and that they still care.”

Jackson’s dad, police officer Justin Scherlen died recently after complications from a crash while on duty, CNN reports.

Officer Daniel Smith told KVII he would “give it all back just to have Justin here with his son.”

On his first day of school, the family in blue showed up to wish Jackson good luck.

The school posted a video to Twitter showing the police officers lining up to give Jackson a hug with the caption: “After losing his police officer dad, he has an army of stand-ins for this important first.”

According to KAMR, nearly two dozen Amarillo police officers escorted the Scherlen kids to school, including the fourth and second graders.