The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation puts on the Best of the Badge gala each year to recognize officers’ bravery.
This year’s awards ceremony will mark the first Best of the Badge since Metro lost one of its own in the Oct. 1 mass shooting on the Strip.
Officer Charleston Hartfield was off duty when he was among 58 killed in the attack on an outdoor country music concert.
Hartfield will be remembered and officers who responded that night will be recognized during the Sept. 14 gala at Red Rock Resort. Tom Kovach is with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation, which is organizing the event.
He said Hartfield will be remembered with an empty chair in black draping. His family has also been invited.
The evening will also honor officers who displayed bravery throughout the year.
“The event recognizes the three highest medals that the department issues: purple heart, medal of valor and medal of honor,” Kovach said.
He said about 100 officers will be recognized with one of those three members either for October 1 or other events where the showed extraordinary effort or bravery.
“The fact of the matter is that our officers are doing brave things all the time and we don’t often hear those stories, which is why this event is so important for us to be able to share with the public why these men and women are so special and why the job they’re doing for us is so important,” Kovach said.
Best of the Badge raises money to aid the department, with funds this year going toward construction of a new police training facility. The new training center was also discussed in a recent State of Nevada interview with Metro Undersheriff Kevin McMahill.
There is a waiting list for the Best of the Badge event, which is nearly sold out. Additional information can be found here.
Tom Kovach, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation