Recently, 8-year-old Vanessa Vega lost her father in the line of duty. Jose “Gil” Vega, a 35-year veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department, was shot and killed responding to a disturbance call. It’s something every law enforcement officer and their family lives with – the reality that when they leave for their shift, they may not return home.

So Monday, as Vanessa headed back to school for the first time since losing her father, members of the PSPD were at her home to show the young girl that she will always have the support from her father’s fellow officers.

“Look it, Vanessa,” one officer says as he points to the line of officers, “all of your uncles came by to take you to school this morning!”

The touching video was posted on the KMIR News Facebook page and quickly earned over 500,000 views. Karianne Gelinas Carrillo wrote, “My husband…the cop who knelt to hug her…love these guys!”

These are the men and women who defend us each and every day and their lives matter. Members of the law enforcement community are like one giant family. They look out for one another. They protect each other. And they do what they can to help family members heal.

This is why we back the blue.