Humanizing the badge

Three Texas school children who lost their dad earlier this month had special stand-ins for their first day of school. Amarillo police officer Justin Scherlen died earlier this month. His three children, Charity, Taylor and Jackson started school Monday morning. All three attend Coronado Elementary School, and for little Jackson, it was literally his FIRST day of school. So who would take them?

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More than 20 offices from the Amarillo Police Department showed up to escort the children to class. The officers lined the halls and gave hugs, making the first day of school a little sweeter. The police escort was a complete surprise to the children, but officers were emotional too. Sergeant Carla Burr said, "It hit me at lunch time when we took the youngest one in. They don't get to tell dad about these stories," and I was just bawling." The children's mother, Jessica Scherlen, said her late husband would have appreciated what his colleagues did for the children.