Nevadans gather in Carson City to honor fallen law enforcement at state memorial
Hundreds gathered on the grounds of the Nevada Capitol mall Thursday afternoon at the site of the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for an annual tribute to fallen peace officers in the state.
"We are gathered here to honor the valiant men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect us, to protect our families and protect our communities," Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said Thursday. "This year we add two more names onto this memorial, and we do so with eternal gratitude and solemn respect."
Charleston Hartfield of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and National Park Service Ranger Thomas K. Brown were added Thursday as the 131st and 132nd names to the memorial.
Hartfield was off duty on Oct. 1, 2017 attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival concert along the Las Vegas Strip when 64 year-old Stephen Paddock allegedly began shooting from the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay onto a crowd of hundreds below. Fifty-eight people were killed and 422 wounded by more than 1,100 rounds of gunfire.
One of those was Hartfield, who took it upon himself to shield other concert-goers from the spray of bullets raining down from above.
"A husband, a father, a United States Army veteran, a member of our Nevada National Guard, Officer Hartfield embodied service above self," Sandoval said. "Even though he was off duty, he took action and immediately began to shield and protect concert attendees.
"When that moment he spent his career training for had arrived, he did what he knew was right," the governor added. "He stepped forward without regard for his own safety, without hesitation, and he saved lives."
Brown, a National Park Service Ranger, died in 1973 during a training dive into Lake Mead, Sandoval said.
The 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Fire Department had joined the NPS and was training to be part of its search and rescue team at the time of his death.
"The brave and selfless service of Charleston Hartfield and T.K. Brown will never, never be forgotten," Gov. Sandoval said. "Our hearts go out to their friends, their families and their loved ones."
Regarding the memorial and the 130 other names engraved on it, the governor said he sees it as a symbol of heartfelt appreciation by Nevadans for those who answer the call of duty to uphold public safety and take an oath to that end.
"Today and every day we must demonstrate our unwavering gratitude for their commitment to our communities, our state and our way of life," he said. "This memorial stands as a living reminder of the unyielding valor of peace offers and the inherent risks of law enforcement."
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