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StumbleMetro officer remembered as ‘protector’ of family, community
Sheriff Gillespie asks for prayers during Thanksgiving holiday
Honor guard members salute during the funeral for Metro Officer Trevor Nettleton at Palm Memorial Park Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009.
Published Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 | 9:23 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 | 6:55 p.m.
Funeral for Officer Trevor Nettleton
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Funeral for Metro Officer Trevor Nettleton.
Changing of the Guard
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See the changing of the guard at the Tuesday viewing for slain Metro Officer Trevor Nettleton.
Sun Archives
- Funeral procession for slain officer includes Las Vegas Strip (11-24-2009)
- Hundreds mourn slain Metro officer, denounce violence (11-23-2009)
- Report details events leading to officer’s fatal shooting (11-23-2009)
- 3 arrested in shooting of Metro officer appear in court (11-23-2009)
- Police arrest 2 more in fatal shooting of Metro officer (11-22-2009)
- Police: 3 arrested in officer’s death have gang ties (11-20-2009)
- Three arrested in fatal shooting of Metro officer (11-19-2009)
To the hundreds of police officers, friends and family gathered for his funeral on Wednesday, Metro Police officer Trevor Nettleton was a hero, a leader and someone to look up to.
“His loss is one that is felt by us all, especially his family,” Sheriff Doug Gillespie said. “Our community lost a protector.”
Nettleton, a 30-year-old former Marine, was shot to death in the garage of his North Las Vegas home last week in what police say was an attempted robbery.
Gillespie said the community’s support has been a source of strength for Metro as the department deals with Nettleton’s death.
Funeral services for Nettleton began at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church, 1811 Pueblo Vista Drive. Monsignor Kevin Mcallife officiated the mass.
Metro officer Larry Rinetti, who served in the Marines with Nettleton, said he knew Nettleton died proudly, protecting his wife and young children. “Once he knew they were safe, Trevor rested,” he said.
“What (the suspects) didn’t realize is that they came into the den of a lion,” Rinetti said. “They became a flock of sheep.”
Six people — Michael Ferguson, 25, Saul Williams Jr., 20, Prentice Marshall, 18, Quadre Scott, 18, Adrian Pena, 17, and Emmitt Ferguson, 18 — have been arrested in connection with Nettleton’s death.
Nettleton’s wife, Danielle, sat at the front of the church with the couple’s 2-year-old son, Tanner, and 2-month-old daughter, Quinn.
Rinetti said Nettleton was a “big, jovial goofball” with a big heart but, at the same time, a seasoned warrior.
“Trevor was amazing at his craft. He wasn’t arrogant about it. He loved what he did,” he said.
He recalled the day Nettleton met his wife, saying that his friend had been making “goo-goo eyes” at her all day long. She would turn out to be the love of his life, he said.
“Trevor knew he was going to marry you the day he met you,” Rinetti said to Nettleton’s widow. “You completed him.”
Rinetti, looking toward the couple’s 2-month-old daughter, said, “You’re going to have the hardest time getting a date, little girl,” because she will have the entire Metro Police force looking out for her when she grows up.
He said the couple’s son has “your daddy’s big legs and booty. There’s no doubt you are destined for greatness.”
Nettleton’s mother, Deborah Austern, said her son had always wanted to be a police officer, just like his father, when he was growing up in Quincy, Wash.
Nettleton excelled in sports and loved baseball. But instead of pursuing sports and going to college, he joined the Marines.
“I would gladly trade places with you to give you back to Danielle, Tanner and Quinn,” Austern said, telling her son she loved him.
“This is the place where you’d always say, ‘I love you, too, mom,’” she said.
Metro officer Brian Jackson recalled the first time he met Nettleton at the Police Academy in November 2006.
“He always trained hard and in a way that he could better himself,” Jackson said, noting that Nettleton was respected among his peers.
Gillespie asked the community to remember Nettleton and his sacrifices during the Thanksgiving holiday.
“To Trevor’s family, I say this: You will never be alone. You will always and forever have the support of your Metro family,” Gillespie said.
Nettleton was confronted in his garage shortly after midnight Thursday. The three-year Metro Police veteran had just returned from work and wasn’t in uniform when he was shot, authorities said.
The Injured Police Officers Fund has opened an account for Nettleton’s family at Nevada State Bank. The account number is 602027542.
After the funeral services, Nettleton was buried at Palm Mortuary and Cemetery Northwest, 6701 N. Jones Blvd.
At the burial, three trumpeters played Taps in a round. Five helicopters flew over the mortuary in a missing-man formation, one of them peeling away from the rest of the group.
Gillespie presented Nettleton’s wife with a flag, as did the Marines, to honor his service.
Officer Rob Alford, who spoke at the funeral, said Nettleton would still have his back when he was working. He knew his friend would be with him in spirit, he said.
“Let’s go, bud,” he said. “We’ve got work to do.”
Discussion: comments so far…
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I believe that there will be an outpouring of respect today for Officer Nettleton due, at least in part, to the manner in which he died: as a victim of crime. Today, he isn't simply viewed as a slain Metro officer; he is one of us.
If anything good is to come from this terrible incident, I hope it is a genuine commitment between Metro and the people of Las Vegas to gain a better understanding of one another. We have a great deal more than our fair share of crime and civic malady, and we both had better work a little harder at cutting through the politics and political correctness of it all and start communicating more closely to fight it. The "us" and "them" mentality--on both sides--has to go. We're all weary of the lawlessness.
Thank you, Officer Nettleton.
At least there's a whole lot less of the vile comments in the Sun than in the RJ. Go read the forum over there for the same story. Lots of nasty people, those RJ readers.
Wow. Our tax dollars hard at work here, I think it's disgusting that they don't make ANY kind of a big deal about an American service member losing their lives in the war, nobody seems to shut down the strip over that. And we all know that if this was a person that worked as was iron worker, bartender or any other profession, we'd simply hear something about it on the news, and that's it. BUT, since he was a police officer, it's like the second coming of Christ. My heart goes out to his family for this horrible tragedy, and may the murders rot in hell, but come on Las Vegas, it makes me sick that we can't show the same respect for people with more valor.
Wow. Our tax dollars hard at work here, I think it's disgusting that they don't make ANY kind of a big deal about an American service member losing their lives in the war, nobody seems to shut down the strip over that.
Maybe because no one brought it up before. Why don't you write Reid and all the rest and suggest it instead of posting negative comments about police officers, who, by the way put their lives on the line every day FOR YOU, the complaining citizen.
VegasHost I was thinking the same thing. I was surprised to see the Strip shut down for this occasion. It seems now that the powers that be will find any reason to shut down the Strip. What visitor wants to see a funeral procession of cops go down the Strip? That's a great way to remove the fantasy element of Las Vegas and knock the tourists back to reality. What were these cops thinking??? How is this guy all of a sudden a martyr? Did he die running into a burning hospital saving babies? What exactly did he do so exemplary that it elevated him to the status where every tourist on the Strip had to honor his body? Being shot in his house while off-duty is hardly exemplary. I believe it was on Halloween another guy about 40 something got shot after taking his 3 kids inside and he went back out to his car, to never return. Where is his procession???
The photo is quite impressive.
BTW Vegashost - in small towns and big cities in this country, our young people in the military who have lost their lives DO get recognition; perhaps not a funeral procession down the Strip - but in every main street in this country; unfortunately we never see it and actually should we? I am all for the news outlets showing the returning flag draped caskets - everyone needs to see what these children have given up to fight in such a wasted war.
When my Dad died and he was laid to rest, it so haappened that 2 young people from the area died in Iraq and were being buried the same time as my Dad in the same cemetary quite close to my Dad's final resting place so we were able to witness the funerals. Dad's funeral procession respectfully took a "back seat" and allowed these two funerals to proceed before us (my sister and I approved this and had no second thoughts). It was one of THE MOST moving experiences I had ever seen. Even though I was grieving for my Dad, it was even more sad that these young people will never live full lives as my Dad did. It put everything into perspective. Seeing the "21 gun" salute was a tear jerker to say the least. Talk about sobbing! Even the men were crying.
So let's not forget the police are on the front lines every day, too, so don't deny this young officer this procession down the Strip.
Everyone feels for the officer's family and friends at a time like this. But Metro has no business shutting down the strip like this. Period.
I feel for the family of the officer, and I hope his murderers rot in prison for ever.
That being said he wasn't on duty when this happened - this could have happened to any one of us. And not to be crass but I wonder if those cops in the funeral procession are getting paid?
RIP OFF, the irony!
this is hurting the economy, tax revenue, and image of the area. These greed bags want their high pay and benefits...and the get in the way of people trying to run businesses. how many people see this and say "I'm not coming back to Las Vegas...I'll go to the Native American Casino
Wow, goodness, I'm almost at a loss for words why so many folks would begrudge this officer a brief moment of recognition with his funeral procession. Erm, do you folks know what happens in New York or Chicago or hell even in my town Toronto when a cop or fireman die? Whether it be in the line of duty or not, respect is paid, streets get closed. Funeral processions go riding through the major downtown cores..... and heaven forbid if it's a military man who's lost his life. We have funeral processions stretching for miles on our biggest highway, all the way from the airport until his final resting place.
Tax money and all aside.....show some kindness. If you don't like how things are done, bust Oscar Goodmans balls, or for that matter Jim Gibbons. But c'mon show the cop a little respect.
As a retired member of Metro my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Officer Nettleton. His loss will be felt for a long time. However, I believe that parading him down the Las Vegas Strip was inappropriate and only done as a form of political theater for the benefit of a Sheriff who wants to be re-elected and get the "More Cops" initiative restarted. It is unfortunate that the Sheriff cares more for his image than he does for the living members of the department who have to fight him for benefits guaranteed under the Nevada Heart & Lung bill because his quack, Doctor Heck who has no clinical background in cardiac medicine, denies coverage because he doesn't like a particular MRI to prove the existence of advanced cardiac disease. Sheriff Gillespie it's time to prove you truly care for your employees and quit making them take you to court for benefits you know they have earned.
Police work is dangerous, and depressing. The police officers see and wrestle with the underside of society day and night.Then some how, they have to wash it all off and try to come home to a normal family life. Those of you who are critical here should try walking in their shoes sometime. You might just be thankful that someone else is keeping law and order for you to enjoy a relatively safe walk around your homes and neighborhood.
Is it unreasonable to expect our slain citizens be given the respect of a private ceremony unburdensome to the public instead of being paraded around as a symbolic victory to the criminal elements?
Pathetic
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A shame the community allowed him to be paraded all over town and down the strip a part of a political game. This was nothing more than a political statement about how much more important some are than others and a money grab statement to all the other departments and government entities. Good going sherif, You make the statement and I get the bill.
I am proud to live in a place where we show so much respect for a slain officer.
Officers are heroes. Just as much as military servicemen. And he was a Marine (for all you complaining about the funeral services for military) and the Marines were there showing huge respect as well. The Casino's ("who have so much to lose over this funeral") put up tributes on their signs. I guess THEY thought he deserved the respect.
And you pay taxes for all kinds of things. You pay for Murderers to eat cake in prison, for people who don't want to work to continue having children and want to feed them cake at home, for our "outstanding" school system, for the roads you drive on, and for a number of other things that need to be payed for. We all pay taxes, not just you.
Their is NOTHING wrong with taking his body down the street of the city he worked so hard to protect. Let tourists see that Las Vegas respects their Officers. If you don't want to honor him don't, but what do you care how the people who want to honor him do? It wasn't a mandatory funeral. People didn't have to go.
Silly!
Our prayers go out to the Nettleton family! And to all of Metro who we really love.
What are the rules regarding traffic disruptions for slain or no-seat-belt speeding police officers? Which dead officer's final journey gets to shut down traffic and which one doesn't? I don't think the black officer's final journey had such honors, or am I mistaken?
Do we have similar honors for astute and long-serving politicians?
Do we have similar honors for slain war casualties, school teachers, honorable business leaders, firemen, dealers, strippers and busboys and busgirls who make this city work?
Do the other officers who spent the day honoring their comrade-in-arms get paid overtime for today's homage?
Will the other officers who spent the day honoring their comrade-in-arms have the strength. stamina and judgment to perform their duties on the evening and night shift on this day?
Will they be working or hiding behind big warehouse buildings and copping a nod?
Who knows?
No offense or disrespect intended, I'm just curious.
Most posters here make me sick. This man was a son, father, husband, brother, Marine, and Police Officer who was truely a hero. He lived his short life always protecting this nation, Las Vegas and even you people that do not appreciate how precious life can be. He was murdered by the scum of this city for no reason. He even protected the filth of this city for three years of his life after protecting our nation. These murdering scum, took his life, a wives husband, a mother and fathers son, and the babies father, who they will never know. This man deserved this funeral and much much more. Remember all you heartless people this officer protected you too. God Bless this man, and his family. The very least Metro and the community could do was say goodbye with the respect Officer Trevor Nettleton deserved. I pray none of you have to ever go through a loss, at the hands of another. Any Police Officer that has a negative comment about this funeral, was really not a Cop with any integrity, courage or morals. Or maybe you have another agenda.
The point is we shall respect as if he was our own family member..R.I.P Officer. My prayers are with your family.
It seems we have to types of posters here. One are Metro followers who think every cop is a hero and most of the rest of society is scum and vermin who must be put down. The other are ordinary citizens who look at the out of control antics of Metro and are asking wtf?
It is sad to see pictures of Nettleton with his family. But Nettleton was not on duty (despite what Gillespie says) when he was murdered. Metro has every right to be upset to see one of their own murdered. But one wishes they had the same amount of compassion for some of the people they have shot and killed lately. This is why many are beginning to ask just who are the criminals here. Maybe a thorough investigation Of Metro by the FBI is exactly what is needed.
Maybe then we can get our police to stop shooting so many people. Then we can get them to slow down, fasten their seatbelts and follow the law. Imagine that.
Are you people serious? This has to be a joke. This man was MURDERED, do you even understand what that means? "How dare you block the strip when im on vacation?"..A man is dead, shame on you. Its amazing the disrespect that is out there for police officers. I can only imagine that you all would want the same honor for a family member. Think of his family..there lives are changed forever because of this horrible act, but lets worry about a slight inconvenience in our vacation. The comment above me really sent me flying too..cops dont enjoy shooting people, maybe this is a shock to you, but they are people too and dont wake up saying, i cant wait to shoot someone today. You obviously dont know the amount of crime in Nevada..do you even live around here?? God bless this mans family in this hard time.
Once again the haters have climbed out of their holes to make jabbing comments at the things in their world that they don't undertstand. They do this with the anonymity of the internet so that they are never held accountable for the things they say here.
robert_lv, lbfromlv, tbvegas, Harley, JohnnyTwoFingaz, mred, VegasHost, ThisOneGuy....
they are always the same losers who never miss an opportunity to whine and complain and fire off the hate-speech at any police related article. Don't get upset by them. Remember that inmates in prison, the mentally ill, and all manner of society's dregs have access to the internet. It sounds like these guys may be one or all of the above.
That being said, I believe you all have reached a new low in your lack of morality and human decency, criticizing this man's funeral, and some for the sake of traffic congestion or "the good of the economy" or wondering how much money the officers are making for being at the funeral.
Doooo$hbag$.
Robert, to question whether Officer Nettleton was on duty or not is totally wrong. While he may have been "off duty" the moment he stepped out of his vehicle, he certainly was "on duty" the moment the crime started to go down. Policemen will generally do what they need to do to protect the citizens (including you, me, themselves and their family). Most of us leave the job behind when we leave the office, factory, store or whatever for the day. Law enforcement is expected to be available on a moment's notice whether they're "punched-in" or not. I guarantee you that Officer Nettleton was indeed on duty when he worked to stop those criminals who took his life. God bless the families of all the officers who have been lost, as well as the families of all those officers (in all departments) working hard to protect us every day. There are some of us out here who appreciate you, and respect you.
Not only is such pomp-n-circumstance a costly, undeserving impediment upon our community, its guests and local commuters but also a fantastic tactical opportunity for criminal perpetrators to strike the homes and families of its parading participants.
Law enforcement personnel parading around town like clowns merely reveals a bozo is in charge.
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BTW: If you're wondering where these parading birds nest give Jim Thomas & Associates a call, they've got "inside" sources that provide details.
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do you freaks know he died in the arms of his mother??? he was able to get back in the house, headed to the guest room as just as his mom was coming out to see what was going on he collapsed in her arms!!!!!!! leave this poor family alone with yor nagative comments!!
Comment removed by staff.
Whats the matter, did the truth hurt someone's feelings over there at the Las Vegas Sun? I find it intolerable that your more concerned with political correctness than the truth.
I guess the ones complaining about shuting down the strip were upset cause they couldn't get to their casino!!! I think shuting it down as a good Idea. Also those three they arrested.....DEATH PENALTY.....