2017 Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial programs presented in Carson City this week
Two events will be held in Carson City this Wednesday and Thursday as part of the 2017 Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony, said Memorial Historian Frank Adams.
The first is a Wednesday evening, May 3, blue light laser demonstration, 8 p.m. at the State Capitol Mall. The demonstration is presented by the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commission and is running in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the memorial and the Carson City Shine the Blue Lights campaign. The public is invited to attend.
On Thursday, May 4, the 20th annual Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on the Nevada Capitol Grounds between the Capital Building and Legislative Building in Carson City.
The program begins at 1 p.m. The service will honor the 130 Nevada Peace Officers who have been killed in the line of duty.
The last officer killed in the line of duty was North Las Vegas Police Detective Chad Parque, who died Jan. 7, 2017 from injuries sustained in an auto accident while on duty.
A vehicle traveling the wrong way on a divided road struck Parque’s police vehicle head-on and then he was struck in the rear by another vehicle. He is survived by his wife, children and siblings.
Parque will be memorialized at Thursday’s ceremony. North Las Vegas Chief of Police Alexander Perez will dedicate his name in the memory of the ultimate sacrifice Parque made in the service of the citizens of Nevada. Special keynote speakers will be Gov. Brian Sandoval and Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson.
In 2016, Carson City Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carl Howell was honored and memorialized after he was killed in the line of duty responding to a domestic battery call on August 15, 2015. He was 35.
In 1998, the memorial was dedicated on the Capitol grounds to recognize the ultimate sacrifice these officers made in service of their communities.
The first officer killed in the line of duty was Carson County Nevada Territory Sheriff John L. Blackburn who was killed in 1861 while making an arrest.
The service will begin with the presentation of colors by the combined Nevada Law Enforcement Honor Guard and the delivery of a runner’s memorial baton.
The baton is being relayed by Nevada peace officers from Las Vegas to Carson City. The Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Run began April 26 in Southern Nevada, 2017.
The last leg of the run will be completed Wednesday with a handoff between Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Each leg of the run is completed in the memory of each officer listed on the memorial.
More than 100 Police honor guards, accompanied by a Pipe and Drum Corp, buglers, rifles teams and horse mounted officers are expected to participate in the memorial service. For more information, visit nvleomemorial.com
Meanwhile, the Shine the Blue Lights campaign is a national movement held in cities across the country through the month of May in honor of National Police Week, May 14-20.
Carson City area merchants and residents who value the risky work of law enforcement can show their support by shining blue lights as a beacon to officers and tribute to those who died in the line of duty.
A free blue lightbulb is available to community members through the generous donation of Dick Campaigni and is available at Campagni Auto Group Toyota, Ford and Hyundai dealerships.
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