(Lincoln, NE) -- The son of a fallen Lincoln Police officer is joining the department his father served with for 23 years.
For years, Carlos Herrera says he watched his dad, Mario, put on a Lincoln Police uniform. Now he will don the same uniform that his father wore for over two decades. “I’ve actually always wanted to be a police officer. Just growing up and seeing my dad and my uncle working at the Lincoln Police Department, it was always an interest to me and getting to hear their stories and their experiences has always played a huge role in my life.”
In September 2020, Luis “Mario” Herrera died after being shot while serving a search warrant on August 26th. In the months following Mario's death, Carlos joined the Lincoln Police Academy. Carlos says his mom, three sisters and fiance have been supportive of his decision to become a police officer.
Carlos says seeing the positive impact Mario had on people's lives really made a profound impact on him and helped bring him to the department. He says the friendships he’s made at the training academy have also helped him through the grieving process.
Carlos has a desire to work as a narcotics investigator and hopes to make a difference by helping those impacted by drug addiction.
(Photo by the Lincoln Police Department)