When Deputy Adam Gibson gave his life in January 2021, his daughter Sophie was still too young to understand the meaning of sacrifice. She only knew the love of her daddy—a Marine, a K9 handler, and a man of courage and faith.
In August, Sophie stepped into a milestone her father never had the chance to see: her first day of kindergarten at Lodi Adventist Elementary. But she didn’t walk in alone. Deputies from the Sheriff’s K9 unit, her father’s brothers in service, came alongside her. They cheered, smiled, and showed her that she will always belong to a larger family. Even K9 Niko wagged his way into the moment, a living reminder of the bond Adam shared with his dogs.
Her kindergarten teacher, Lyly Nguyen, reflected on the day: “It was so touching and emotional to see how many police officers showed up in support of Sophie on her first day of kindergarten. Especially the K-9 dog who came to greet her, it truly honored her late father, Adam.”
Above the schoolyard, a helicopter flyover briefly filled the sky—a fleeting sight, difficult to capture in photos, but profoundly moving. For Sophie, it was more than the start of school; it was the visible embrace of her community, a promise that her father’s bravery would never be forgotten and that she would always be surrounded by love.
