The Police Memorial park is a city park with a variety of facilities. The highlight of the park is the Police Memorial. While the whole park is a memorial to the Police and their variety of roles within the community, several parts are specific to the fallen Law Enforcement Officers of Southern Nevada. As you enter the park it looks similar to any other city park. Down the hill the Memorial Statue honors all the Police Officers. This statue is beautifully lit with red, white and blue lights at night. Down the hill a little further is a walkway with trees planted to honor each of the fallen officers with an engraved local red rock stone. At the base of the hill is a memorial wall with engraved bricks for each of the fallen.
Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial
Behind this wall, the families and friends of the fallen officers sat waiting for the service to begin. The sun was setting over the Spring Mountains, as the bagpipes began to play. The multi-agency honor guard began the March of Honor carrying flags of eleven of the law enforcement agencies in Southern Nevada. They presented the colors and raised the United States flag, returning it to half staff. The Star Spangled Banner was sung. This solemn moment gave an opportunity to reflect on the great loss the all the families must feel, but especially those five families of officers whose names were newly added to the memorial. The setting provided a sense of peace.
The Reverend Doctor Vincent ONeill gave the invocation. City Councilman Stavro Anthony and United States Marshall Chris Hoye spoke of the commitment of the fallen. Sheriff Douglas Gillespie gave the keynote speech. He reminded those present of the sacrifice of these officers. He spoke of the family the officers were and how this service and honor will be given each year. The officers were not alone, for the community of Southern Nevada was also their family.
Officers Added to the Memorial
Following Sheriff Gillespie's address the names of the twenty-eight fallen officers were read beginning the Joe Mulholland a Union Pacific officer who was killed on October 1, 1905 and continuing to the five fallen officers added to the memorial this year. Those officers were Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers Milburn Beitel and Trevor Nettleton, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Corrections Officer Daniel Leach, United States Marshall Service Court Security Officer Stanley Cooper and Nye County Deputy Sheriff Officer Ian Deutsch. Each of the twenty-eight was honored and a time for a family tribute was given.
At the conclusion of the family tribute, America the Beautiful was sung by the Faith Lutheran High School Women's Ensemble and a tribute from the sky by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Air Unit lead up to the twenty-one gun salute and playing of Taps and Amazing Grace. Reverend ONeill gave a benediction. The Scintas then gave a tribute from the entertainment community. The Honor Guard moved from the memorial wall to the memorial statue. At the statue, an informal period where candles were lit in honor of the fallen officers, gave family and friend a chance to connect, remember, and comfort each other.
Kim Youmans - Kim Youmans is an acclaimed educator, teaching preschool through graduate school. He writes about Theology, travels, and the outdoors.
