Omaha’s men and women in blue traveled to Washington D.C. to honor one of their own. Fallen Officer Kerrie Orozco’s name is now forever etched into the National Law Enforcement Memorial wall.
“She was such a fantastic officer,” said Lieutenant Ken Kanger who worked with Officer Orozco.
Right now ceremonies are going on in D.C. with thousands of law enforcement officers remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“It's been a moving experience,” said Kanger.
Kanger said being in D.C. at the memorial wall is heart-wrenching.
“It's probably one of the worst experiences I had to go through because Kerrie worked for me and I would have never dreamed any of the officers of the Omaha police department, alone someone who worked with me so closely with would have their name etched on the wall, it is a tremendous tribute,” said Kanger.
It’s an experience Sergeant Jeff Kopietz wanted to see in person.
“The ultimate honor is to then go there and say forever when anyone walks through that memorial they'll see her name,” said Kopietz.
On Thursday Senators Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer laid a wreath by Officer Orozco’s name on the memorial to pay their respects.
OPD Chief Todd Schamaderer said Orozco’s impact on this force will forever be felt.
“I’m very proud the world, the city got a glimpse of her life. I'm devastated by the circumstances of how all that came about but very proud the world got to see how she was and she's very much remembered around here and always will be,” said Schmaderer.
On Sunday in Omaha, OPD will have a police memorial service at 1pm at OPD headquarters.
