Son Of Fallen Houston Police Officer Gets Police Escort To Kindergarten

CYPRESS, TX — The son of a fallen Houston Police Officer had an unforgettable first day of school after he was escorted by members of the Houston Police Department and their mounted patrol for his first day in kindergarten.

Kevin Will Jr., never got the chance to meet his father, so on Tuesday morning, Houston Police Officers honored their friend and and fellow officer, and escorted the 5-year old kindergarten student from his home in the Wildwood at Oakcrest Subdivision to Wildwood Elementary in Tomball ISD.

In May 2011, Kevin Will, Sr., 37, was on duty investigating a hit-and-run accident on Loop 610 North, when a drunk driver drove around the police barricadea, and hit the officer, killing him.

Johoan Rodriguez, who was driving the car, was charged with intoxicated manslaughter and sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Kevin Will, Sr., had barely been on the job two years, was recently married with two step-children and was expecting his first child, when he was killed.

The first day would have been the day when mom and dad take that walk with their son, but Kevin Will, Jr got something much differnt.

Nearly 100 officers walked behind the 5-year old boy as he held his grandfather’s hand on the half-mile walk to school.

Behind the officers on foot were others on horses, a sight that’s rare these days even in the ouskirts of Houston, and a flyover from a Houston Police Department helicopter.

Joe Gramaldi, with the Houston Police Officer’s Union said Kevin Will’s widow, Alicia Will, contacted friends through the HPD support group and pitched the idea to them.

It was something his HPD family didn’t mind doing.

“As soon as she let us know, we put the wheels in motion,” Gramaldi told Patch. “We were able to put this event together to let him know his blue family was behind him on his first day of school.”

Gramaldi said when it comes to families like the Will’s, who have suffered a loss in the line of duty, they remain a part of the HPD family forever.

A lot of people use the phrase, ‘Gone, but not forgotten.’ bu that is a ;phrase that Gramaldi said is taken to heart by members of law enforcement

“We always touch base with the families who’ve lost loved ones in the line of duty and make sure [they know] we are there for them, whatever they need. In this case, it was just moral support on his first day of school,” he said.

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