Tree planting commemorates sacrifice of slain police officers, civilian

Dozens of people rallied at Metro’s Northeast Area Command station Monday night to honor three people who lost their lives in a series of shootings a year ago.

Las Vegas police officers Igor Soldo and Alyn Beck, who were ambushed and killed as they ate lunch June 8, 2014, were honored at the substation, located near North Pecos Road and Las Vegas Boulevard. The shooters also gunned down civilian Joseph Wilcox at a nearby Wal-Mart before they were killed in a shootout with police.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said the event was meant to be celebratory, not sad.

Two Japanese blueberry trees were planted in the rear of the station, and after the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, officers from Soldo and Beck’s squad took turns watering the plants. Lombardo said the trees were positioned so officers at the station will see the plants every day as they leave the parking lot and return safely. That way the officers will know Soldo and Beck are looking out for them for generations to come, Lombardo said.

The sheriff also unveiled a new plaque to commemorate the officers at the substation.

“We hope that the memorial plaque will remind citizens of the high price that officers sometimes pay for their commitment to protect this community,” Lombardo said.

Metro officer Troy Nicol, who worked with Soldo and Beck and was on the team that went into the store after the killers, said everyone who knew the victims was changed that day.

“We didn’t just lose two brothers,” he said. “We lost two family men and brothers.”

A tree was also dedicated to Jospeh Wilcox at the Walnut Community Center Park, which is adjacent to the police station. Metro Cpt. Dave Lewis said it’s rare to see a civilian place themselves in harm’s way for the sake of other people.

Wilcox was legally armed and tried to stop one of the shooters when the second killer shot him from behind.

Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly said at the park that he had no doubt Wilcox was looking down on the moment and smiling.

Our responsibility to Joseph is to look up and say ‘job well done,’ Weekly said.

Officers then took turns giving the tree a little bit of water and shaking hands with Wilcox’s family.

“I feel proud of him,” Joseph’s mom, Debra Wilcox, said. “He deserved it.”

Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl.