Terre Haute Police Selling Memorial Bracelets For Slain Officer

TERRE HAUTE, IN — The Terre Haute Police Department announced Monday that memorial bracelets for Officer Rob Pitts are now available for purchase. Department officials say the bracelets honoring Officer Pitts, who was killed on May 4 while investigating a homicide at the Garden Quarter Apartments, are $2 each and can be picked up at the department's headquarters.

Monday was also the day the young son of Officer Pitts returned to Sullivan Elementary School for the first time since his father's death. Terre Haute's WTHI reports his 5-year-old son, Dakota Pitts, asked his mom if one of his dad's friends could drive him to his first day back at school.

However, when Dakota arrived at school, WTHI reports he was greeted by 70 Terre Haute Police Officers and Vigo County Sheriff's Deputies who were there waiting for him (see below).

Officer Rob Pitts' son, Dakota, went to school today for his first day back since his dad lost his life in the line of duty. There were 70 police officers on hand to welcome him back. See the video here. https://t.co/iAMCgkaejG pic.twitter.com/hS6fOusWQ9
— WTHI News10 (@WTHITV) May 14, 2018

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"He will definitely know his dad was a hero,” said Kelli Jones, sister of Pitts, told WTHI. “Blood doesn't always make family and I think the blue family went above and beyond.”

According to WTHI, the SWAT Team gave Dakota his own SWAT shirt and badge.

What started as Pitt's wife just reaching out to Rob's friends and families, ended up being an entire group showing up off the clock for her son.

For more information on the Officer Pitts memorial bracelets, visit the Terre Haute Police Department Facebook page.

Photos via Terre Haute Police Department