The Lafayette Police Department started their Monday morning by escorting the daughter of fallen officer Corporal Michael Middlebrook to her first day of school.
Officers gathered at Lafayette Christian Academy at around 8:00 am as Middlebrook’s daughter Violet was heading to her first day of class.
4-year-old Violet Middlebrook wasn’t sure what to expect for her first day at Lafayette Christian Academy.
“She was saying that she was nervous. She was nervous to walk into school,” said Adrienne Middlebrook, Violet’s mother.
Knowing those nerves wouldn’t be made easier without her dad by her side, the Lafayette Police Department made sure violet knew she was still among family on her big day.
“They essentially adopted her into their own family,” said LCA Principal Josiah Broussard.
“Corporal Middlebrook is not here to escort his daughter to the first day of school and that’s our job. She’s got a bunch of mommy’s and daddy’s now, and it’s part of our honor and our duty to him to make sure she’s taken care of,” Officer Karl Ratcliff said.
Officers lined up with LCA cheerleaders to welcome Violet and take those oh- so- cute first day of school pictures with her, which her mom hopes she’ll look back on fondly. The group took a photo in from of the school to mark the first day.
“She’ll go back and she’ll look at it from her first day of school, from day one, and she’ll be like wow,” said Middlebrook.
Corporal Middlebrook’s brothers and sisters in blue hope to be a support system for his family in this moment and many more to come.
“She always knows that she’s not alone and she always has us. And that’s what we’ve done since the day we lost Corporal Middlebrook and that’s what we’ll continue to do. For them to know that they’re not alone and we’re always there if they need us.”
Watch the video of their arrival:
(Video Abby Breidenbach / KATC)
