Each year we celebrate National Police Week in May. In Nevada, the celebration kicks off in Las Vegas with a relay run to Carson City. Public Safety Officers carry a baton that bears the names of those officers who have given their lives in the line of duty on the inside of the baton.
On Wednesday, the day before the statewide law enforcement ceremony, the baton and runners passed through Douglas County and did the hand-off to the Carson City Sheriff’s Office SWAT members at the RV area in Indian Hills. The SWAT team then ran the baton to the Legislature where the spot has been held.
Tomorrow, Thursday May 2 at noon, every law enforcement agency in the state will assemble at the Peace Officers Memorial between the Capital and the Legislative Complex. There, the Carson SWAT team will escort the final leg of the relay into the complex and present the family of the fallen officer with the baton. This year, the Carson City community will be adding a name to the Memorial that had been overlooked. Officer Vernon Carvin, Killed in the Line of Duty, on October 31, 1949 (Nevada Day), will be honored. Officer Carvin’s daughter-in-law, Rosylan Carvin will receive the baton during the ceremonies.
The Carvin family loss in 1949 is especially significant. In July 1977, the grandson of Police Officer Carvin, Firefighter Ken Carvin, also lost his life in the line of duty when the helicopter he was aboard crashed while responding to a fire in Kings Canyon. The family is identified as one of the few families that have lost two to the greater health, safety and welfare of our community.
Our hearts, prayers and greatest honors go out to the Carvin family survivors, most notably Rosylan Carvin for insuring that we never forget those who have given their all.
We welcome the Carson City community to attend this special ceremony to witness the final leg of the relay and honor those that have fallen in the line of duty.