Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Metro, family mourn officer killed in crash

Milburn Beitel III remembered for being superstitious, always professional

Officer Milburn Beitel Funeral

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Officers salute as the casket of Metro Police Officer Milburn Beitel arrives Wednesday at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church for his funeral Mass. He died Oct. 8 at UMC hours after his cruiser crashed at Nellis Boulevard and Washington Avenue the previous evening.

Updated Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 | 5:36 p.m.

Funeral for Officer Milburn Beitel

Metro Police mourned the loss of their fellow officer, Milburn Beitel III, alongside his family Wednesday at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church during his funeral Mass. Beitel died Oct. 8 at UMC hours after his cruiser crashed at Nellis Boulevard and Washington Avenue the previous evening.

Officer Milburn Beitel Funeral

Honor guard members escort the casket of Metro Police Officer Milburn Beitel after his funeral Wednesday at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church in Las Vegas. Beitel died Oct. 8 at UMC hours after his cruiser crashed at Nellis Boulevard and Washington Avenue the previous evening.
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Milburn Beitel

Metro Police Officer Milburn Beitel shakes hands with Sheriff Doug Gillespie. Beitel died Oct. 8 at UMC hours after his cruiser crashed at Nellis Boulevard and Washington Avenue the previous evening. Launch slideshow »

Milburn Beitel III

  • Date of birth: 8-2-1979
  • Family: Beitel was not married and had no children.
  • Parents: Ann and Milburn Beitel Jr. (living in Culville, Texas)
  • Brother: Aaron Beitel
  • Place of birth: San Antonio, Texas. He lived in Texas until 1995, when his family moved to Las Vegas
  • High school: Graduated from Silverado High School in Las Vegas in 1997
  • Military service: U.S. Marine Corps, 1997–2001
  • Joined Metro: September 2003, assigned to Metro’s Mobile Command Saturation Unit at death

Fatal Police Crash

Clark Country Sheriff Douglas Gillespie held a press conference today sharing some details regarding the death of Officer Milburn "Millie" Beitel in a single vehicle crash Wednesday night.

When Metro Police officer Michael Kinney arrived at a crash scene on Nellis Boulevard just after 9 p.m. Oct. 7, he found officer Milburn “Millie” Beitel, the officer he carpooled to work with every day, in the rolled patrol car, fighting for his life.

Kinney knew it was bad and could do nothing but hold Beitel’s hand. He placed his hand on his friend’s chest and felt him take a deep breath, then prayed as Beitel was transported to University Medical Center’s trauma unit.

Officer James Bertuccini, Beitel’s best friend, rushed to the trauma center minutes later and sat with his longtime partner as he fought for his life.

As Beitel took his last breath about 1:30 a.m., Bertuccini said, “I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and whispered the words, ‘I love you my friend.’”

The two officers shared their recollections of Beitel, 30, who died Oct. 8 in a one-car crash that seriously injured officer David Nesheiwat, 25, during funeral services Wednesday morning. More than 2,000 fellow police officers from agencies throughout the state and friends gathered at Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church at 11 a.m. for the two-hour service.

Beitel’s flag-draped casket was then taken to Palm Mortuary’s cemetery on South Eastern Avenue, where he was laid to rest with the sound of a breeze rustling the trees punctuated by prayers, a rifle salute and the sound of Taps.

Patrol cars and 75 motorcycle officers with lights flashing traveled 35 mph along Las Vegas freeways to transport Beitel to the church and then to the cemetery. The snare drum of a pipe and drum corps kept time for the soft marching of the honor guards.

A riderless police horse stood outside the church entrance after Beitel’s body was taken inside. As Beitel’s family entered the church, the choir began to sing, “And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings.”

At the end of the Catholic funeral service, Sheriff Douglas Gillespie, Bertuccini and Kinney talked about the imprint Beitel, a former Marine and Silverado High School graduate, made on the force and on their lives.

Beitel was superstitious, Bertuccini said, and would chew the same three pieces of gum throughout a shift, and if he didn’t do so, he was afraid things would not go right.

He worked out at the gym every day and was devoted to his pit bull, Winston. “Their physical stature and gentle touch matched,” Bertuccini said.

Beitel always kept a professional demeanor, even in unusual circumstances, his partner said. Once, the two pulled over a man who was dressed in a flannel shirt on top and French maid costume, complete with fishnets stockings, on his lower half.

When Beitel asked him the reason for the attire, the man said, “Dude, it’s laundry day,” Bertuccini recalled. Without missing a beat, Beitel replied, “Well, of course it is.”

Kinney, often speaking through tears, described how he, his brother and Beitel would go dirt biking together. Kinney was leading the way one time, and Beitel wiped out trying to keep up with him – but in his unique way, Kinney said.

“He flipped on the bike and landed on his feet,” Kinney said.

Beitel was always there when Kinney needed him, he said, and “most of all when I didn’t, which is a true friend.”

Beitel, who is survived by his parents, Ann and Milburn Beitel Jr., of Cullville, Texas, and a brother, Aaron Beitel, lived in Texas until 1995, when his parents moved to Las Vegas. Beitel graduated from Silverado High School in 1997. After high school, he did a tour in the U.S. Marine Corps until 2001. He joined Metro in 2003.

Once at the cemetery, the multiple police honor guards lined up at attention around the gravesite, and uniformed officers from Metro and other area police forces stood silently in rows upon rows nearby.

The soft clicks of the pallbearers’ shoes were audible as they bore Beitel’s body from the Metro truck that carried it to its final resting place. A rifle salute shattered the silence, then Taps was played, echoed twice by trumpeters placed in strategic spots.

A Marine honor guard folded the flag on the casket and presented it and another flag to Beitel’s parents and brother. Sheriff Douglas Gillespie presented them with a Nevada flag, and they were awarded a Purple Heart for Beitel and 21 empty cartridges to represent the rifle salute.

After bagpipers played “Amazing Grace,” five Metro Police helicopters flew overhead in the traditional missing man formation.

At 3:05 p.m., over the loudspeakers and on Metro radios throughout the Las Vegas Valley, a dispatcher announced, “Officer Milburn P. ‘Millie’ Beitel, P Number 8092, Secure. Final.”

The rifle guard stood before the coffin, saluted, and each placed a pin of the Marine insignia they had worn that day on top. The honor guard saluted and the commander took off his gloves and left them.

Then one by one, the hundreds of officers walked by and gave a final salute.

Jean Reid Norman can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].

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