In late 2021, Louisville Metro Police Officer Zach Cottongim died tragically in the line of duty leaving behind his wife, Jamie Cottongim and sons Riley and Alexander. Jamie recalls how Zach had been "so excited" for the day their oldest son, Riley, would start school and so as that day was approaching, it was especially emotional for the widowed mom.
Knowing how much it would mean to the Cottongims, their extended family of Zach’s former colleagues from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and their spouses rallied to support the family. On now-five-year-old Riley’s first day of kindergarten this week, he and his mom were greeted by more than two-dozen uniformed officers, lining the path to Riley’s new school.
The gesture meant everything to Jamie. "I could just feel Zach. I could feel him standing there with them," Jamie says, "I just felt so close with him in that moment and to see Riley smiling and high-fiving all of them, it was amazing." And she says that Riley had an amazing first day of school. "He told me it was the best day ever," she says, "His teacher also told me that by the time he got to class he had the biggest smile on his face." The LMPD paid tribute to Zach in a social media post, celebrating Riley's first day of kindergarten and renewing their commitment to supporting him.
Source: GOOD MORNING AMERICA
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