When Football-Loving Father Dies In The Line Of Duty, Dozens of Cops Come to Son's First Game

Oct 07, 2019 by apost team

This past June a family and community lost an esteemed member when Police Cpl. Jose Espericueta was slain while on duty. Officer Espericueta was pursuing a man, who had purportedly been shooting at his mother’s vehicle. When he approached the suspect, he was shot. Espericueta was delivered to a hospital, where he died soon after. The suspect continued firing on police officers till he, too, was injured, brought to a hospital and declared dead.

The entire community mourned the officer’s death. Even people at a distance were touched by his life's work.

Espericueta had been on “Live PD,” a TV show on A&E. His coworkers nicknamed him Speedy because many of them had problems saying his surname and also because of how fast he able to respond to calls. Unfortunately in the wake of his passing things were left undone.

According to Officer Javier Lara, football-loving Espericueta was excitedly anticipating the beginning of his son Joaquin’s opening football match of the season.

“The one thing he couldn’t stop talking about was Joaquin starting football this year,” Lara informed CNN.

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So the men and women of the police force "...made a promise to the family that we’re gonna be there for special events," said Lara to CNN. Since it was the first football game, they rallied agencies from across the valley to show Joaquin that they're still there, even though his dad was not able to be as well.

Instead of only his family coming to the game, Joaquin gazed up into the stands at Cathey Middle School to view his extended police family cheering for him. Joaquin and several police officers even went to the ritual coin flip, while a helicopter flew over the area in recognition of his father.

“It was a true blessing for the Sheriff’s Office to take part in attending and supporting Corporal Jose “Speedy” Espericueta’s son’s first football game in the 2019 season,” posted the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office on Facebook.

Officer Lara believes it is important to be there for Joaquin, to let him know they are going to be there for the remainder of his life. Joaquin was thrilled and really thankful for the show of support. He possesses a tremendous heart. He is going to be a great young man.

It's inspiring to see people come together. How has your community come together in a time of need?