Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegans gather at rally to support police

Sea of Blue Rally at Police Memorial Park

L.E. Baskow

Clark Co. Sheriff Joe Lombardo is joined by others on stage as hundreds gather at Police Memorial Park attending a Sea of Blue rally to show support for police everywhere on Friday, January 9, 2015.

Sea of Blue Rally at Police Memorial Park

Kids hold handmade signs as hundreds gather at Police Memorial Park attending a Sea of Blue rally to show support for police everywhere on Friday, January 9, 2015. . Launch slideshow »

Huddled together in the cold, a crowd of people donning blue T-shirts and displaying ribbons filled Police Memorial Park on Friday night.

Children carried posters in support of law enforcement, and speakers including Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Las Vegas City Councilman Stavros Anthony spoke of their respect for and support of police.

The rain fell, subsided and fell again.

The attendees of the Sea of Blue Rally for Law Enforcement Appreciation Day remained in place, listening as speaker after speaker thanked officers for their service.

“You stop cars not knowing who is in the vehicle,” Anthony said as he praised Metro Police. “You stop people not knowing what their intentions are.”

The event, just one of many nationwide celebrations of police officers and other first responders, comes amidst demonstrations over officer-involved deaths across the country.

The July 17 chokehold death of Eric Garner by a New York City policeman, the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and the Nov. 22 shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice are the latest cases to bring about protests.

The reaction from the public in some cases has resulted in violence.

New York City Police Department Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were killed last month, allegedly in response to Garner’s death.

The speakers at the Sea of Blue Rally said they were sending a message similar to the ones plastered on the posters held by a line of children in front of the stage.

Under bright lights, the kids raised signs with sayings including “My hero wears a badge,” “Defending the shield,” and “Back the blue.”

"In these days of protest, know that a small group does not represent the vast majority," Anthony said.

Sheriff Joe Lombardo addressed the crowd, saying he would stand by his officers.

He also discussed the events in Cleveland and Ferguson, asking whether people believed the officers woke up with the intent of ruining their careers.

“How many out there think the officer in Ferguson, Mo., put on his uniform and thought he’d do the right thing that day?” Lombardo asked the crowd to a cheering response.

Lombardo was one of the few speakers or organizers to address the events directly, with others speaking more generally as to why they became officers or why they support Metro.

Lt. Harry Fagel read aloud a poem he wrote titled “Love or Hate, Still Marching on,” telling the story of officers who witness violence and endure, and whose hearts he says grow softer over time.

Fagel also addressed the deaths of Metro officers Igor Soldo, 31, and Alyn Beck, 42, who were ambushed and killed June 8 while eating lunch.

“Two guys murdered at lunch because they served,” he said. “No one ever said we must endure such horror, but we do. We are the police.”

The event, which was put together in just over a week, was a grassroots effort by officers, their families and community members, according to Officer Matthew Donaldson, one of the coordinators.

“This is a good chance for the silent majority to get out and be vocal and show their support,” he said.

The support is appreciated by police whose wounds are still “scabbing” after the deaths of Soldo and Beck, Donaldson said.

“We’re healing,” he said. “We’re rebuilding.”

As the opening theme to the TV show "Cops" played in the background, attendees greeted officers, roamed a lot full of food trucks and even danced.

Husband and wife Carlos and Mary Castro said they came as a show of thanks.

“We have a lot of friends on the force,” Carlos Castro said. “This doesn’t happen often enough.”

Elizabeth Castro, their daughter, said she enjoyed the event and hoped more community outreach events would take place across the country to help officers connect with those they swear to protect.

“It brings us together and closer as a nation,” she said, “because as a nation we need this.”

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