Ceremony honors Nevada police officers killed in line of duty

CARSON CITY — It was a dreary day for a somber ceremony Thursday as law enforcement officers from across the state gathered in the rain to remember fallen capital city sheriff’s Deputy Carl Howell at the annual Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony.

Howell was killed by gunfire while responding to a domestic violence incident in Carson City in August.

The man who shot Howell was Jonathan Pope, 30, who died at the scene of the domestic violence incident. Howell was taken to Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center where he died of his injuries.

Howell was the first Carson City officer to die by violence in the line of duty in more than a century. The last reported incident was the shooting death of Sheriff Timothy Smith in 1867. Howell is survived by his wife, Rachel, and their four children.

Between November 1861 and August 15, 2015, 129 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in Nevada.

Gov. Brian Sandoval was among the dignitaries attending the ceremony, held on the capitol grounds.

The governor ordered flags at public facilities flown at half-staff in honor of the fallen officers.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3820. Find @seanw801 on Twitter.