Officer Chris Marcello’s name added to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial
Officer Christopher Marcello’s name will now be forever imprinted on the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial.
By News Channel NebraskaGRAND ISLAND, Neb.- - Officer Christopher Marcello’s name will now be forever imprinted on the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial.
It was an emotional Friday for family and friends as his name was revealed on the memorial wall. They gathered with state and local officials to honor and remember the sacrifice Marcello showed while on duty with Grand Island Police. He passed away unexpectedly in 2022.
While Chief Kevin Denney did not get to meet Marcello, he said this memorial provided closure--not only to the family but the department as well.
“His sudden passing was a shock to all of them. So this is enabled us to celebrate Chris’s life and legacy and to really come together and just feel a little bit of that closure that we all need,” Denney said.
In addition to Friday's event, Marcello's family and Grand Island officers traveled to Washington D.C. this week to see their loved one's name added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The Hall County Crime Stoppers raised $32,000 to finance the trip.
“When you get into that and you do want to leave a legacy and you want to be part of something bigger than yourself, it’s not the most safe field to get into," said Denney. "This brings home a point that Chris’s death, even though it’s a terrible tragedy, kind of brings home a point why we do what we do in law enforcement.”
Lincoln Police Investigator Michael Belleci was one of Marcello's close friends. He said he’s glad Marcello’s name will always be remembered.
“Our biggest fear is that that we stop talking about Chris and that his memory fades. Today’s ceremony was just a chance for us to all get together and realize that no matter, you know, whether we talk about him every day, every other day or every other week, no matter how much time goes in between, his name is on this wall forever,” Belleci said.
The names of Shelton Night Marshal Orren Eatherton and Buffalo County Deputy Sheriff Willis Daggett were also added to the memorial wall.