Officer Down in Omaha
 

http://66.180.7.47/np_0/small/0912ahpratt2.jpgThis morning, at 4:23 AM, Officer Jason Pratt of the Omaha Police Department died from a gunshot wound to the head sustained in the line of duty on the evening of September 11, 2003. He was shot while chasing Albert Rucker on foot after he fled from a traffic stop. Rucker had been involved in over 140 different incidents with police and was wanted on two outstanding felony warrants at the time of the shooting. He was shot to death by another officer.

Pratt has been in critical condition since the night of the shooting and his weeklong fight ended this morning. A call went over the radio to every officer this morning: Officer Jason "Tye" Pratt is 10-7. End of Tour.

Pratt was a member of Omaha's Emergency Response Unit, the equivalent of a SWAT team. The elite unit is trained for the most dangerous duty. He was one of the most highly-trained members of the Omaha Police.

Please hold Officer Pratt and his family in your prayers. Pratt is survived by his wife, Stacy, and their daughters 8-month-old Jordan and 3-year-old Madison. He was a seven-year veteran of the force.

A full news article can be read at http://www.theomahachannel.com/news/2496448/detail.html

that sucks. i hate hearing about when cops die...especially on duty.

Concur.

And the street cops always seem to be the young ones with growing families. Any loss of life is tragic, but the effect on the wives and children are always so gut wrenching.

that is so sad to hear, especially since he had 2 little babies at home. i'll keep them all in my paryers

So well said, DeltAlum.

This is so sad. When I worked with the delinquents, I had a case where some juveniles ran over a police officer with some heavy construction equipement. The officer died. It was one of the saddest cases I've ever dealt with. My heart goes out to this officers family. :(

Few years off, Hootie. The last Officer to die on the job in Omaha was Jimmy Wilson Jr. in 1995, who was shot to death by someone with a military-grade rifle as he was pulling someone over for a traffic stop - Wilson was not even able to take off his seatbelt before he was shot and killed.

Sergeant Jason Tye Pratt was laid to rest today, and the true spirit of the community of Omaha was shown. In a funeral service at the Omaha Civic Center, over 6,000 mourners gathered, including 1,300 officers from over 90 agencies from communities as far away as Minnesota and Colorado.

After the funeral service, thousands of citizens gathered on the streets to say goodbye to a man that most had never personally during the funeral procession - a 7 mile route that took over an hour and a half to complete because of the number of police cars involved.

I encourage everyone to see the full newspaper article from the Omaha World Herald or view the accompanying picture slideshow to see how the city of Omaha gathers together in face of tragedy.

"Tye, until we see you again, Goodbye" - Michael Pratt, brother.
"Sergeant Jason "Tye" Pratt has answered his last call. He is being interred at Calvary Cemetery. May God have Mercy on his Soul" - Final Radio Call

This poem was in the programs handed out at the funeral, written by a good friend of Jason's:

They're mothers and fathers
They're husbands and wives
Ensuring our safety while risking their lives.


We send them to work
With a kiss or embrace
And try not to think of the dangers they face.


They're brothers and sisters
They're daughters and sons
Who serve and protect wearing badges and guns.


We know of the honor
And courage they hold
It shows in their lives and the stories they've told.


They're nieces and nephews
They're neighbors and friends
On whose dedication our safety depends.


They ask nothing more
Of the ones they protect
Than courtesy, trust and a little respect.


They're everyday people
Enforcing our laws
They really are heroes who fight for our cause.


Remember these heroes
You see every day
Remember the ones who were taken away.

Few things are sadder -- but at the same time more impressive than the funeral for a law enforcement officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty.

The long lines of men and women in the uniforms of different jurisdictions, miles long processions of emergency vehicles with flashing lights, flags on coffins, honor guards with white gloves, black mourning tape over shields -- and the raw emotions among the families and brother and sister officers.

I've seen too damn many of these things in my career.

It would be nice to never see another. But I know that won't happen.