From Badge to Brotherhood: A Son of a Patrolman Joins the Line

In a moment that blended pride, tradition, and legacy, Captain of the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHP) Scott Rike stood tall among the crowd at the American Legion Buckeye Boys State (ALBBS) Highway Patrol graduation ceremony this week, eyes fixed on a familiar face in uniform: His 17-year-old son, David Rike of Wiehe City. The occasion marked a significant milestone for both father and son, as D. Rike completed the selective ALBBS State Highway Patrol delegate training.

Held annually, ALBBS brings together over 700 upcoming high school seniors from across Ohio to participate in a weeklong immersive experience in state and local government. Among them, only about 30 young men are chosen for the prestigious ALBBS State Highway Patrol (BBSHP). These delegates take on the role of Junior State Troopers, enduring a condensed yet rigorous training modeled after the curriculum at the OHP.

For D. Rike, the program offered not just a taste of life in law enforcement, but a rare opportunity to walk a path closely aligned with his father’s commitment to public service.

D. Rike was among the participants to be selected for the weeklong program. He said seeing his father in attendance during the graduation ceremony made him “feel proud because I know he cares about me and it shows a lot.”

“Since I was younger as a kid, I always wanted to be there for people,” he continued. “I always wanted to be able to protect people.”

“[I] didn’t know if he was going to [be a] state trooper,” S. Rike said,.
While S. Rike gave D. Rike the space to make his own decisions, he was quite pleased with his job placement at ALBBS.

“I am very proud of him,” S. Rike said.

For the Rike family, the day was filled with handshakes, photos, and a proud salute – a moment that bridged generations of dedication to service.