Las Vegas Valley police departments send representatives to services for officers killed in Dallas

The valley’s three police departments have sent Honor Guard members to Dallas to pay respects at services for the five officers shot and killed Thursday night during a downtown protest.

Metropolitan Police Department Honor Guard members Dave Cienega and James Milligan will represent Las Vegas at four of the five services for the fallen officers, said Metro Capt. Rich Fletcher, an Honor Guard commander. Although they’ll attend and observe the services, the Las Vegas officers will not participate, Metro said.

“They are representing Sheriff Joe Lombardo, his staff, this entire department, and more importantly, this community,” Fletcher said.

Metro’s Honor Guard, which has 30 volunteer members and stages about 200 events per year, is self-funded. It respects, honors and remembers past and present police officers for their dedication and service to Southern Nevadans.

When word spread that members from Metro were headed to Dallas, businesses offered help. Southwest Airlines provided flexible round-trip tickets, and the Albertsons and Vons Foundation will cover lodging and food, the department said.

Other Metro officers have volunteered to pay their own way to Dallas to represent Las Vegas at the services, Fletcher said.

The Henderson Police Department also sent two Honor Guard members, whose trips are paid for by fundraisers held throughout the year, department spokeswoman Michelle French said. She declined to name their Honor Guard officers, citing confidentiality and safety concerns.

The North Las Vegas Police Department will pay for two Honor Guard members, officers Kristen Bishop and Henry Centuolo, to go to Dallas for at least five days to represent the department at the services, said Lt. Tom Glazier, commander of the North Las Vegas Detectives Bureau.

Las Vegas Honor Guard members have attended police funerals in the past, including one in December 2014, after two officers in New York City were ambushed and killed.

Out-of-town police departments have acted in kind. When two Las Vegas officers were shot and killed in June 2014, officers from around the world came to pay respects.

Metro’s Fletcher said sending Honor Guard members to Dallas shows the fallen officers “are in our hearts and we care.”

Cienega and Milligan will return to Las Vegas after the fifth service on Saturday.

Review-Journal reporter Raven Jackson contributed to this report. Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Find @lawrenlinehan on Twitter.