Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong accepts a check from Carson City local Don Alexander. Alexander reached out to actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna, who lent their support in honor of fallen Deputy Carl Howell.
The Carson City Sheriff’s Office received some support from Hollywood in honor of fallen Deputy Carl Howell.
Actors Gary Sinise, from Forrest Gump and CSI: NY, and Joe Mantegna, from Criminal Minds and The Godfather 3, reached out to the Sheriff’s Office to show their support for the department in the wake of Howell’s death.
Howell was killed in the line of duty August 18 when he was shot responding to a domestic disturbance call.
Carson City local Don Alexander presented Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong with a video message from Mantegna and a check for the Howell family from Sinise Friday afternoon at the Sheriff’s Office.
Alexander reached out to both men after hearing about what happened to Howell to see if they could help, because both actors are large advocates for public service support.
“I heard about what happened and I wanted to help,” Alexander said. “I contacted Gary Sinise through his foundation’s website and Joe through his personal website and he responded the next day. Gary responded two days after.”
“It feels amazing (that they helped out),” Alexander said. “It’s the least I could do.”
Sinise sent a check for $2,500 from himself and his wife Moira, and Mantegna recorded and sent a video message for the department and community.
“I would just like to express my deepest condolences to the family of Deputy Carl Howell,” Mantegna said.
“I have always said that it takes a special person to be in law enforcement, the fire department or the military, and Carl was in all three and that makes him Superman in my book. People like Carl are a rare breed and he will never be forgotten.”
The video message from Mantegna was originally premiered at a fundraiser for Howell and his family at the 5 Clover Ranch in October.
“We first saw this at the event at the Ranch in Douglas County and I was so taken aback, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house” said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong. “You have people who are so recognizable as their roles as actors and the fact that they recognized not only Carl, but his family, each of his children individually, but to recognize the challenges that all officers face nationwide, we are just honored.”
Furlong said the department feels so honored to be recognized by these nationally known men, and the support from them and the nation as a whole has been amazing.