It’s part of a police officer’s duty to deliver bad news – a part of their everyday lives.
When Officer Eric Ellison knocked on Kazzie Portie’s front door, it was to deliver bad news. Both of Kazzie’s parents had been killed in a head on collision on a motorbike, and Officer Ellison was the one to tell him that, at 17, he was now an orphan.
Technically, that was the end of Ellison’s duties.
But when the officer found out that not only was Kazzie now an orphan, he was also due to graduate from high school in 10 days – without any family.
Ellison knew instantly, he wasn’t going to let that happen.
“I said, ‘You are going to walk!'” Ellison told BuzzFeed News. “Your mom and dad will have front-row seats looking down from heaven, and I’ll stand in their place. I’ve got your back.”
Ellison attended Kazzie’s graduation from Little Cypress–Mauriceville High School, and – as promised – was right there at the end of the stage to hug him and congratulate him.
In the video, Kazzie’s older brother, Blake, describes how proud he is of him – and how proud their parents would have been.
“This was such a special moment. Thank you class of 2015 for making this such a memorable occasion for our family,” he said, “Throughout all of this you have been so strong and we are so proud of you. Thank you for being such a great brother. I am so excited to see what the future holds for you. I know mom and bubba are so proud of you.”
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