Family behind touching photograph shares story after Ellis memorial

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Every once in awhile, a photograph sums up what a group is feeling, thinking and hoping. A photograph taken Wednesday of a boy and his dad, honoring Officer Daniel Ellis, did all of those while capturing the attention of the social media world.

Officer Pete Peden was on duty in Frankfort when he got the news of the shooting in Richmond. He didn’t know Daniel Ellis but immediately, his heart sank. Like Ellis, Peden is a young officer, with a wife and young son. Peden’s wife, Deena, realizes it could’ve been her family.

“The Ellis family’s makeup is so close to that of our family that it really his close to home this time,” she says with 3-year-old Hudson to her right.

Hudson was with his dad, Pete watching the procession of cars escorting Officer Ellis to his final resting place in Adair County, Wednesday. In one hand, his dad’s grip kept him close by; in his other hand, a small American flag.

“While I was on my way down to Richmond I said this is what I’m going to do,” Pete Peden says. “He sees me get in the gun belt, put the badge on every day but I needed to show him another aspect of what law enforcement’s about.”

Peden says he told his 3-year-old that Ellis was hurt bad and his family was very upset and that was why they needed to be there to see him off properly.

Images of Peden and his son are still floating around the Internet as the Frankfort officer prepares to head back to work. He says that’s his duty and his wife agrees.