Law enforcement memorial run expected to cause traffic delays; Howell to be honored Thursday

Traffic delays are expected today from about 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as law enforcement officers run the memorial baton into Carson City from Douglas County.

The baton is being run from Las Vegas to Carson for the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony Thursday on the Capitol Grounds. The runners are expected to start at the KOA campsite in Douglas County, come down Highway 395 to Sixth Street and end on Butti Way to house the baton until the ceremony Thursday. Because there will be a police escort accompanying the runners, Sheriff Ken Furlong said to expect congestion along those roadways.

“This does impede traffic and we apologize for that, but this is the final leg of the state run from Vegas,” Furlong said.

The run began April 27 in Vegas and has been run through each county by law enforcement agents to the Capitol Grounds, with each leg completed in the memory of each officer listed on the memorial.

This year at the memorial, the only name added will be fallen Carson City Deputy Carl Howell, who was killed in the line of duty Aug. 15 while responding to a domestic dispute call. The memorial baton, which houses Howell’s name will be presented to his wife and children at the ceremony Thursday. At the ceremony, Furlong will dedicate his name in memory of the sacrifice Howell gave to the citizens of Carson.

This is the 19th Memorial Ceremony held, and it honors the 129 Nevada Peace Officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice. 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 Memorial Ceremony will be held at noon on the Capitol Grounds Thursday.