Two events this week, one in Carson City and the other in Virginia City, will recognizes law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
In conjunction with National Police Week, Thursday, May 2, the 16th Annual Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony will be held on the Capitol grounds in Carson City beginning at noon. The service will honor the 123 Nevada Peace Officers that have been killed in the line of duty since 1861. In 1998, the memorial was dedicated on the Capitol grounds to recognize the ultimate sacrifice these officers made in service of their communities.
This year, the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commission will enshrine the name of Carson City Police Officer Vernon B. Carvin on the memorial during the annual Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony. Officer Carvin died on Nevada Day 1949 when he was kicked in the chest by a violent prisoner that he and his partner were trying to place in a cell at the local jail.
In addition to Carvin’s name, two additional officer names that died in the line of duty will be added to the memorial: Lt. Glenn Barnes from Washoe County Sheriffs’ Office (1991) and Deputy Denny Van Lawrence from the Elko County Sheriff’s Office (2012).
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 that died in the line of duty was Deputy Lawrence who died of injuries sustained when he was shot in the head by a murder suspect in 1982.
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 25, 2013 and one leg of the run is completed in the memory of each officer listed on the memorial.
As part of the memorial service, a tree and memorial plaque will be dedicated to former Senator William “Bill” Raggio. Senator Raggio was Nevada’s longest serving State Senator and a former District Attorney from Washoe County. He was always a strong supporter of Nevada Law Enforcement.
On Saturday is the 4th annual Police Memorial Week Parade, beginning at noon in Virginia City and hosted by the Silver State National Peace Officers Museum. The event pays tribute to officers killed in the line of duty while celebrating professional law enforcement, the men and women who serve and protect.
Law enforcement from three states will gather there to pay tribute to their fellow officers who have had their lives taken from them while protecting the public. Bagpipers, honor guards, vintage emergency vehicles, mounted officers, and law enforcement from hundreds of miles away.
Other highlights of the parade include Reno area singer Sandy Selby belting out America the Beautiful and other special songs for the occasion. The parade grand marshal is Soledad, Calif., Police Sgt Tom Marchese, the driving force behind a feature documentary called FALLEN. www.FALLENProject.com.
The museum features a spectacular collection of United States law enforcement history dating back to the early 1700s. Our collection, the Gist Collection, was the product of one man’s lifetime passion for law enforcement and we are proud to share this wonderful tribute here in Virginia City. There is no other like it anywhere.
Contact the Silver State National Peace Officers Museum at (775)847-7800 or visit the website
www.peaceofficersmuseum.org for details.