Run to kick off fallen officer memorial

A baton carrying the names of Nevada's 99 fallen peace officers will begin its 450-mile journey on Wednesday from Las Vegas to Carson City in the hands of an some 150 officers.

"Peace officers at a memorial ceremony stand at attention and show their presence, but (the run) gives them the opportunity to physically do something that is very emotionally fulfilling," said Dick Clark, general chairman of the Nevada Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Run.

"It's an honor to carry that baton. It comes all the way from Las Vegas to Carson City, passed one hand to another."

He said the run is divided into 99 legs, to represent the 99 names engraved into the memorial -- 46 legs in the south, 53 in the north.

The week-long journey will end May 14 at the State Peace Officers Memorial in the Capitol Plaza.

This is the fourth year the run has preceded the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony and is held in conjunction with the National Police Memorial Week.

Deputies from Lyon and Douglas counties will carry the baton through their towns. Carson City Sheriff's Department deputies will pick up the baton at the Douglas County line and eventually hand it to Sheriff Ken Furlong, who will run it into the plaza.

Fortunately, no peace officers were killed in the line of duty this year, said Clark. "And some years there's more than one," he said.

The run is intended to highlight the ceremony, which honors those who lost their lives while serving the state.

Clark said runners will follow Highways 95 and 95A to Yerington, then take Highway 208 to Highway 395 into Carson City. They will be escorted by Nevada Highway Patrol, local police and an RV donated by Michael Hohl Motors. Runners will use daylight hours only.

"People in law enforcement and criminal justice feel we're a family," he said. "This whole run is an opportunity for law enforcement officers across the state to pay tribute."

BREAKOUT:

If you go:

What: Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony

When: 1 p.m. May 14

Where: State Peace Officers Memorial at the Capitol grounds