Raggio to be honored at police memorial

The late Sen. Bill Raggio of Reno will be among those honored during the 16th annual Nevada Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial on May 2.

The memorial on the capitol grounds honors the 123 peace officers who have been killed in the line of duty since 1861.

This year’s ceremony will add Carson Police Officer Vernon Carvin to the memorial. He died on Nevada Day 1949 when he was hit in the chest by a violent prisoner he and his partner were placing in a jail cell.

Also on the list are Lt. Glenn Varnes from the Washoe Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Denny Van Lawrence of the Elko County Sheriff’s office.

Raggio will be honored with a tree and memorial plaque next to the law enforcement memorial.

Spokesman Frank Adams said Raggio, Nevada’s longest serving state senator and the former DA from Washoe County, was always a strong supporter of Nevada law enforcement. His career began as an assistant DA in Washoe County from 1952-1958. He was DA from 1958 to 1970 and served more than 38 years as a Republican Senator representing Reno from 1972-2010.

The ceremony is set for noon on May 2 on the capitol grounds.