A new monument stands at the Washoe County Sheriff's Office for the brave men and women, who gave their life in the line of duty.
Not only does the memorial provide a lasting monument to the memory and service of those who died, it also is a new safe place for family members to come celebrate their loved ones.
"It keeps him living on, it keeps him alive in our memory and it keeps things alive in my kids' hearts. And that's what's important to us," said Lacie Carl, a family member of a fallen WCSO member.
Lacie Carl and her family came to honor Franklin Minnie, who died in an motorcycle accident in 1997. He is one of the six fallen members of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office to be placed on the memorial.
Carl says she appreciates that the sheriff's office is recognizing her father and remembering his life. She, along with the other families of the fallen each received a single rose to honor their loved ones.
Washoe County Sheriff Chuck Allen joined family members of staff who died in the line of duty to dedicate a new Sheriff’s Office memorial today. The memorial honors the memory of the brave men and women of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office who gave their life in the line of duty.
Sheriff Allen will also recognize community members whose donations made this important memorial a reality.
“Those who gave their lives in service to our community are never forgotten in our hearts,” Sheriff Allen said. “Now, thanks to the generous support from nine local businesses, we have a fitting, permanent reminder of their sacrifice.”
And paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives, Sheriff Chuck Allen says Friday's ceremony also puts into perspective their role in protecting the community.
Sheriff Chuck Allen said, "We put our lives on the line each and everyday, our goal is to come home to our each respective families, but we never know the uncertainty which each day presents to us."
The dedication of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Line of Duty Death Memorial was held at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in north Reno.
The Sheriff’s Office began exploring the idea of a Line of Duty Death Memorial in 2014. Patrol Lt. Michelle Bello, also a member of the Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, was researching information for the memorial when she connected with Steve Ryckebosch of TRC Homes, LLC.
Understanding the significance and importance of this memorial, Ryckebosch offered to build and donate the monument to the Sheriff’s Office. They coordinated the donations of equipment and manpower from eight other local businesses to complete the project.
But it's not just the memorial where officers are paying tribute.
Sgt. Corey Solferino and Lt. Marc Bello who stood guard in Friday's ceremony, will also be taking part in this year's Police Unity Tour.
They will be biking across New Jersey to the memorial in Washington D.C. It's all to show support for the fallen officers and their family members.
"Seeing their friends, seeing their family and seeing their children that we were apart of those funerals, part of those officers' lives, it just makes me motivated to continue to do this because it raises awareness for officers killed in the line of duty," said Sgt. Corey Solferino, WCSO.
This will be the 12th year Bello and Solferino have biked the nearly 400 miles in 4 days on the east coast.
Lt. Marc Bello with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office said, "There's riders from all over the nation participating and bringing that police brotherhood together."
Every year is a challenge. Not just physically, but emotionally.
Solferino adds, "Every year I've ridden for someone different, from my first K9 that I lost, to an illness, to an officer from the San Francisco Police Department to one of our own."
For these officers, the bike ride is a way to keep alive the memory of the men and women who died protecting our community.
As for Carl, she appreciates knowing that her father, along with the other fallen, are recognized for their service.
"This is who they were, this is what they lived for and what they died for and to know 19 years later that they still matter to their community, is special," said Carl.
The bike journey for these two officers will be next week. And as for the memorial at the sheriff's office, we're told the public is always welcome to come pay their respects.
The following businesses made contributions to the Sheriff’s Office Line of Duty Death Memorial:
Sierra Summit Landscaping
C & E Builders
MC Masonry
MSM Sheet Metal
Advanced Powder Coating
Italia Granite
Stone Creations of Nevada
Nevada Craftsmen Construction
TRC Homes, LLC
Honorees on the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Line of Duty Death Memorial
Deputy Sheriff Harry Ward Swaney
End of Watch – August 12, 1935
Deputy Sheriff Earl Griffith
End of Watch – April 30, 1947
Special Deputy Nancy Hawkins
End of Watch – December 9, 1984
Lieutenant Glen Barnes
End of Watch – March 19, 1991
Deputy Sheriff Franklin Jay Minnie Sr.
End of Watch – June 1, 1997
Deputy Sheriff John Nicholas Wiberg II
End of Watch – May 11, 2004
(Washoe County Sheriff's Office contributed to this report.)
