Wall to honor fallen officers

Heather Rawlyk

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.

In February 1978 Metro Police Officer James Rogan was gunned down while making a routine traffic stop. Now, 25 years later, his son will stand as an honor guard Wednesday at the unveiling of a memorial wall commemorating his father and others in Southern Nevada law enforcement who have died.

James "Jimmy" Rogan Jr., who was 18 months old when his father died and now is a Metro officer himself, will join with friends and families of law enforcement personnel for the unveiling of the Police Memorial Wall at Cheyenne Avenue and Metro Academy Way.

Twenty-one boulders engraved with officers' names will be placed along with planted trees in memory of the local law enforcement men and women who died in the line of duty.

In addition, a wall with 181 names of police officers, police staff and others who died, but not in the line of duty, will be unveiled.

Rogan's father was the first Metro officer killed in the line of duty after the Clark County Sheriff's Office and Las Vegas Police Department were joined to create Metro Police in July 1973.

City and Metro employees dedicated a tree in his name at Police Memorial Park in 2001, but never constructed a headstone or plaque to go along with it. Now a name will be placed with his tree and the trees of the other 20 officers who have died on the job.

Until Wednesday, Rogan has had to rely on a map to find his father's tree.

"When they first opened the memorial, they planted all of the trees for the officers but never had headstones or any name on them," Rogan said. "Finally, someone has put some initiative toward making headstones of some kind, and it's just really nice of the city to do that."

The boulders will be placed at the base of each tree and are engraved with the officer's name and the agency he or she worked for, Officer Tina Ellison, a Metro spokeswoman, said.

In dedication to the officers who have died outside of duty, a memorial wall has been constructed with 181 bricks purchased and donated by family members and friends. Ellison said the bricks are engraved and the wall has been built and is ready to be unveiled.

Rogan said the unveiling is important for honoring all lost members of the police department, not just those who died in the line of duty.

"It's just a wonderful way to remember our friends and our families, and everyone who was part of the police department," Rogan said. "It's part of Memorial Park, so you can go there and spend time with your family and remember those you lost."

Retired Sgt. Ron Swift, whose father's name will appear on the wall, said the memorial is a necessary tribute to all officers who have died. His father, Robert Swift, was a retired Metro officer when he died in 2002.

"To me personally, it is a never-ending tribute to the officers who served, who not necessarily gave their life but gave everything to the community," Swift said. "Whether it's saving someone's life or putting the bad guy away forever, they made people feel safer in the community and they should all be honored."

He said officers from every state have a special bond through work that should be respected.

"I'm not boasting for myself, but you know, there's just an unwritten code between cops, knowing what the other has gone through, even without knowing the guy," Swift said. "Just like firemen, there's a bond there."

Swift will attend the unveiling with his wife.

"I'm going to show my support for the work effort put into (the Memorial Wall), let alone pay tribute to the officers," he said. "My dad's a piece of that now, and the family name carries on."

Swift said his niece is now in the department as well.

The unveiling of the Memorial Wall will start with a parade to the dedicated trees, also known as the Grove. A flag will be raised to half-staff, staying spotlighted in that position for 24 hours a day. The wall will then be unveiled, followed by a 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps" and "Amazing Grace," according to Ellison.

The ceremony will also include the posting of colors by the Multi-Agency Honor Guard, remarks by Mayor Oscar Goodman, Sheriff Bill Young and Ward 4 Councilman Larry Brown.

"The Police Memorial Wall is a tribute to those who have served unconditionally and have given an incredible gift to Southern Nevada," Brown said. "The 181 people whose names appear on the wall gave Southern Nevada the ultimate gift anyone can give to another -- their lives, day in and day out -- so that we might live in peace and safety."

The unveiling will begin at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Diana R. Paul at 229-6582 or Carla Alston at 229-8105.