Police Officer Jason Swanger joined the LVMPD on February 12, 2014. He began his law enforcement career working patrol at Enterprise Area Command (EAC). From there, Officer Swanger went to work in South Central Area Command (SCAC) before returning to EAC. Officer Swanger became a Field Training Officer, where he was a lead officer in overseeing the training of new officers during their first year of patrol. He was devoted to the Explorer Program and active in helping to educate children at Steve Schorr Elementary School and Charles A. Silvestri Junior High School about law enforcement and good life choices
Before joining the LVMPD, Officer Swanger served as a culinary specialist in the United States Navy for 11 years. He continued to serve his country by joining the Nevada Army National Guard.
He was known as a devoted father and husband who went the extra mile for people in need and dedicated himself to policing to make a difference in other people’s lives. Officer Swanger died on June 24, 2021, of complications from COVID-19. He was 41.
Police Officer Charleston Hartfield joined the LVMPD on January 18, 2006 and worked in Patrol Division until 2015, when he was transferred to the Project Management and Video Bureau.
Officer Hartfield was also a decorated 16-year U. S. Army Combat Veteran. At the time of his passing he was assigned as First Sergeant with the Nevada Army National Guard.
In addition to his law enforcement career and his military service, Officer Hartfield found time to continue his devotion to the community as a local football coach and director. Officer Hartfield was the epitome of courage and dedication to America in every way possible.
On October 1, 2017 Officer Hartfield was one of the many victims who were killed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. Officer Hartfield was attending the music festival with his wife and was shot while taking off-duty action to rescue citizens during the shooting.
Officer Hartfield is survived by his wife and two children.
Police Officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo were shot and killed from ambush while eating lunch at a pizza restaurant in the 300 block of North Nellis Boulevard.
Two subjects, a male and a female, approached them at their table and shot them execution style without warning. The subjects then stole both officers’ weapons and ammunition and ran to a nearby Walmart, where they shot and killed a civilian.
Responding officers followed the two into the Walmart and exchanged gunfire with them. The male subject was killed by rifle fire from a responding officer and the female then committed suicide.
Officer Beck had served with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 14 years.
Police Officers Igor Soldo and Alyn Beck were shot and killed from ambush while eating lunch at a pizza restaurant in the 300 block of North Nellis Boulevard.
Two subjects, a male and a female, approached them at their table and shot them execution style without warning. The subjects then stole both officers’ weapons and ammunition and ran to a nearby Walmart, where they shot and killed a civilian.
Responding officers followed the two into the Walmart and exchanged gunfire with them. The male subject was killed by rifle fire from a responding officer and the female then committed suicide.
Officer Soldo had served with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for eight years.
Police Officer Dave VanBuskirk died after falling during a nigh-time aerial rescue operation of a hiker on Mount Charleston.
The hiker had become disoriented and was stranded on a rock ledge near Mary Jane Falls. A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter located the hiker and lowered Officer VanBuskirk to the location.
Officer VanBuskirk, a member of the Search and Rescue Section, attached the hiker to the hoist. As the helicopter began to raise the two to the helicopter Officer VanBuskirk became detached from the line and fell to the canyon floor below.
Officer VanBuskirk had served with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 13 years. He is survived by his wife.
Officer Daniel J. Leach joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on June 18th, 1984 following the completion of his formal education in Louisiana. Dan was a Career Corrections Officer, and at the time of his death was assigned to the Tucker Holding Facility in Laughlin, Nevada. On the morning of November 21st, 2009, he began his shift by picking up a prisoner transport van from the Clerk County Detention Center and driving to Laughlin. While traveling southbound on U.S. 95, Officer Leach was involved in a two vehicle accident. He was killed instantly. Officer Leach is survived by his wife, two children, his parents, one brother and one sister.
Officer Milburn “Milli” Beitel III joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on September 30, 2003, following four years of distinguished service with the United States Marine Corps. “Milli” was a dedicated officer, committed to the service of both his community and his country. In the late evening hours of October 7th, 2009 Officer Beitel’s patrol car overturned after he swerved to avoid a citizen's vehicle. Officer Beitel was ejected, causing fatal injuries. Officer Beitel was 30 years old. He left behind his parents, one brother, and his beloved dog “Winston.”
Officer James “Jamie” LeTreall Manor joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on May 20, 2007. Jamie’s imposing physical size was only eclipsed by the size of his heart and the magnitude of his character. In the early morning hours of May 7, 2009, Officer Manor was responding to a reported violent domestic disturbance when his patrol cruiser collided with another vehicle. Jamie had to be extricated from his patrol car, and died from his injuries. Officer Manor was 28 years old. He left behind a daughter, 10 brothers and sisters, his mother, and a large extended family.
Sergeant Henry Prendes joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on February 26, 1991. He was a deeply religious man who carried a Bible with him in his patrol car. On February 1, 2006, Sergeant Prendes responded to a report of a violent family disturbance. As he entered the residence, he was ambushed and shot by a suspect armed with an assault rifle. Sergeant Prendes died at the scene. A gun battle between the suspect and other officers at the scene ensued, during which the suspect was shot and killed. Sergeant Prendes was 37 years old and left behind a wife and two daughters.
Officer Russell L. Peterson joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on April 17, 990. He served approximately six years in Patrol, Training and the Gang Unit before transferring to Search and Rescue in May of 1996.
On the afternoon of March 24, 1998, Officer Peterson and a volunteer were on a training exercise at Mt. Charleston. While Officer Peterson was belaying the volunteer on an ice climb on a frozen waterfall, a large piece of ice broke loose from high on the mountain. The ice narrowly missed the volunteer before hitting Officer Peterson, killing him instantly.
Officer Peterson celebrated his 40th Birthday one day earlier. He is survived by his wife Lesa.
Officer Weese joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on September 11, 1990.
On the night of October 23, 1992, while working as a Field Training Officer with his partner, Eric Kerns, he responded to a gun call. While en route to his patrol car collided with another vehicle and then struck a traffic signal pole. Office Weese sustained significant injuries and died at the scene. Officer Weese was assigned to the Northeast Area Command Squad, squad NE31.
This tragic event occurred just 25 minutes before the end of Officer Weese’s shift. He was 25 years old at the time of his death.
Traffic Officer Marc Kahre joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as a cadet October 2, 1973, and became a commissioned officer in 1975.
On October 11, 1988 at approximately 12:15 p.m. Officer Kahre spotted the car of a suspect who had earlier fired several gunshots through his ex-girlfriend’s front door. While Officer Kahre waited for a backup unit, he followed the vehicle to the 4900 block of Chantilly Drive. The suspect stopped abruptly, jumped out of his car and began shooting at Officer Kahre, who was on his motorcycle. He was hit once in the forehead.
Officer Jim Hulsey had arrived at that time and immediately returned fire, striking the suspect 5 times. However, the suspect was still able to get back in his car and drive away. The suspect became involved in a traffic accident at Lamb and Charleston and shot himself in the head. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Officer Kahre was 34 years old when he died. He was survived by his wife and two sons.
Police Officer Clark Anthony Wooldridge joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in August 1978.
While responding to a fight and accident call on August 12, 1979, his patrol car collided with another vehicle. He was pinned underneath the vehicle, which had overturned, and subsequently died at the hospital. The fight and accident call that led to this officer’s untimely death turned out to be a false alarm – there was no fight or accident.
Officer Wooldridge died at the age of 22 and was survived by his wife of less than 2 years.
Corrections Officer James Walter Harbin II joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on February 7, 1979.
On March 18, 1979, only 6½ weeks after he was hired, he was shot and killed in a convenience store robbery. Officer Harbin had stopped at the store en route to work. The store clerk tried to warn him of the robbery in progress. Due to the fact that he was in a uniform almost identical to a police officer, he was mistaken for a police officer and shot. The suspect was later apprehended after holding police at bay for several hours.
Officer Harbin died at the age of 22 and was survived by his parents.
Officer James Richard Rogan joined the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in 1970 and served the Department for approximately eight years.
On February 22, 1978, Officer Rogan made a routine traffic stop. During the stop, the driver shot Officer Rogan multiple times with an automatic handgun, killing him. The suspect was killed by police the following morning after an all-night, house-to-house search.
Officer Rogan died at the age of 41, leaving behind his wife and six children ranging in ages from 2 to 18 years.
Sergeant Paul DeWeert joined the Las Vegas Police Department in January of 1948.
On October 8, 1967, Officer DeWeert was involved in an off duty altercation that led to his shooting death. Though technically off duty he had apparently decided to take enforcement action against the suspect, who, by his own admission, said that Sergeant DeWeert had told him to stop so he could talk to him.
Sergeant DeWeert died at the age of 60, just five months short of retirement. He was survived by his wife and two teenage sons.
Officer Fortye joined the Las Vegas Police Department on October 10, 1961, and served the department for five years and 18 days.
While working K-9 with his dog, Burgie, on October 28, 1966, Fortye made a routine stop on a northbound vehicle on Highland Drive. The assailant pulled Officer Fortye’s revolver from his holster and shot him three times. His partner, Burgie, attacked the assailant, ripped his clothing and mauled his hand. The assailant was captured a short time later. Burgie was found sitting next to Patrolman Fortye when backup officers arrived.
Officer Fortye was 32 years old when he died, and was survived by his wife and 6-year-old daughter.
Deputy Sheriff George Hart was appointed to the Clark County Sheriff’s Department on July 5, 1956.
On October 25, 1957, Deputy Sheriff Hart arrested a drunken man. While booking the prisoner, he was struck in the stomach. Due to complications resulting from the blow, Hart succumbed to the injury on November 12.
Deputy Hart was 40 years old when he died, and was survived by his wife and five children.
Officer McGee joined the Las Vegas Police Department on June 22, 1954, and served the Department for 17 months.
On November 11, 1955, Officer McGee was investigating an early morning burglary in which $300 in coins were taken. Unbeknownst to the victim of the burglary, two pistols were also stolen, as well as a pellet gun and a 22-caliber revolver. Later in the day, Officer McGee received a call that the suspect was at a local downtown motel. When Officer McGee arrived at the hotel, he heard the desk clerk talking to the suspect in a loud voice. The suspect surrendered the pellet gun but as the officer was handcuffing him, he pulled the second gun from his waistband and shot Officer McGee four times. As Officer McGee lay mortally wounded, the suspect took the officer’s revolver and fled out the back door of the hotel. When he was captured a short time later, he was still carrying the slain officer’s revolver.
Officer McGee was 33 when he died and was survived by his wife.
Sgt. Dula joined the Las Vegas Police Department on June 16, 1952. He was promoted to Sergeant on January 16, 1954. He served the department for approximately three years.
While working out of the Traffic Division he and his partner responded to a call to aid a citizen who had been beaten at Las Vegas Boulevard South and Fremont. At 12th and Fremont Sgt. Dula’s motorcycle was struck by two juveniles. The two teenagers who struck Sgt. Dula’s motorcycle were the same two suspects who had beaten up the citizen and were fleeing from the incident.
The incident occurred 10 minutes before the end of his tour of duty on April 8, 1955. He died at age 26 and was survived by his wife and two small children.
Deputy Sheriff Winnie Austin Hansen was a member of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. He was born October 3, 1893.
On December 26, 1950, Deputy Sheriff Hansen along with his partner Deputy Sheriff William Wolf, were proceeding east on Boulder Highway when they observed a vehicle that seemed out of control. A vehicle stop was made in the safety zone in front of the Green Shack Restaurant, located on Boulder Highway, 500 feet from Charleston Boulevard East.
Both deputies exited their vehicle along with the driver of the stopped vehicle. It was found that the driver’s vehicle was disabled due to a leak in the brake line. Deputy Sheriff Hansen was standing to the rear of the vehicle, the citizen and Deputy Sheriff Wolf were standing by the passenger door. Deputy Sheriff observed a vehicle coming into the safety zone in their direction, and immediately pulled the citizen and himself out of the way of the on-coming vehicle, which struck the door of the vehicle they had stopped, striking Deputy Sheriff Hansen.
Deputy Sheriff Hansen was transported to the County Hospital where he died from his injuries. The driver of the striking vehicle was arrested and convicted of vehicular manslaughter.
Officer May joined the Las Vegas Police Department in the early 1930’s and was the first Las Vegas police officer to give his life in the line of duty.
On June 8, 1933, he was assigned to investigate a disturbance at a motel on South Fifth Street. It was later learned the motel proprietor had been drinking heavily during the day and had made statements he would kill the first officer to stop there. As Officer May was getting out of his vehicle he was shot by the proprietor. Although Officer May was critically wounded he still shot and wounded his assailant. Both the officer and the suspect died before help could reach them.
He died at the age of 38 and was survived by his wife and seven children, ranging from 6 weeks to 15 years of age.