Police officers faced a silent crowd as the sun set over downtown Omaha Friday. The plaza in front of Omaha police headquarters turned into a gathering place of men and women commemorating sacrifices of officers who have shown up for work never to return home again.
“Many are called to the law enforcement profession,” said OPD officer Matt Kelly. “They're fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons.”
The men and women in blue soon flooded downtown streets. As bagpipes blared, the crowd stayed mostly silent.
That crowd marched while another audience of thousands sat on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Dozens of Omaha police officers were in that crowd too, preparing to commemorate the death of Omaha detective Kerrie Orozco.
In a skype interview from Washington, DC Friday, Officer Ken Fox, remembered Orozco as a friend who he worked with, volunteered with, and fought with until her final breaths.
“I arrived on scene minutes after she was wounded and watched her fight for her life,” said Fox.
A man shot Orozco as officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant May 20, 2015. Orozco was a new mother. Her daughter, Olivia, was still in the hospital when she died.
“If she knew that we were all down here for her, she'd say, what's the big fuss? That's the type of person she was,” said Fox.
OPD officers joined Orozco’s family for the vigil on the trip, which included several stops to commemorate Orozco’s sacrifice.
The events wrap up Sunday. Stay tuned to KMTV for more updates.
Story images courtesy @OPDBridget
