In conjunction with National Police Week, the 17th Annual Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony will be held noon Thursday, May 1, 2014 on the Capitol grounds in Carson City.
The service will honor the 126 Nevada Peace Officers that have been killed in the line of duty. 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 last officer killed in the line of duty was Officer David Vanbuskirk of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department who died of injuries sustained while conducting a search and rescue mission on Mt. Charleston in Southern Nevada in August of 2013.
The service will begin with the presentation of colors by the combined Nevada Law Enforcement Honor Guard and the delivery of a runner’s baton. The baton is being relayed by peace officers from Las Vegas to Carson City. The Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Run starts April 24, 2014 and one leg of the run is completed in the memory of each officer listed on the memorial.
This year, three officers will be honored at the memorial service. They are:
Officer David Vanbuskirk (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police) fell to his death from a helicopter while participating in a search and rescue mission for a stranded hiker on Mt. Charleston in Clark County. He fell while being hoisted into the helicopter. He died at the scene. End of Watch: 7/23/ 2013
Watchman John Montague (Southern Pacific Railroad Police) was on patrol at the rail yards in Reno Nevada when he was struck from behind by a switch engine. He was transported to the hospital and died the next day. End of Watch: 01/05/1905
Watchman Jose Sancebo (Southern Pacific Railroad Police) was patrolling the rail road yards in Palisades Nevada when he was attacked and shot four times. He was transported to the hospital but died several hours later. End of Watch: 08/11/1937.