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York County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Fifield, Nitro’s partner, carried the urn to the lobby of the convention center where a memorial ceremony was held.
The hall was filled with law enforcement officers, many of whom were state department dog handlers who had participated in the motorcade.
There were dozens of flowers and cards on display in the room, which had been sent to the sheriff’s department by many members of the community. A photo of the young K-9 deputy was in the foreground, which included the words “End of custody, February 8, 2022.”
As York County Sheriff Paul Vrbka rose to address the crowd, it was hard to ignore the barking coming from other service dogs, in the various units parked just outside the gates.
With grim candor, Sheriff Vrbka recounted how Hampton teacher and coach Kyle Ediger, along with Nitro, were killed on February 8.
“This was a horrific incident for our department, our community, the Hampton School District, Hamilton County, all of us,” Sheriff Vrbka said. “We feel very badly for the Ediger family and we remember them today.
“We are also here to remember Nitro and honor the canine/handler teams,” Sheriff Vrbka said. “There is a special bond between them. I would also like to thank the agencies that assisted in the investigation of this accident and crime, including the Nebraska State Patrol, Seward County Sheriff’s Department, the York Police Department, the York Fire Department, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Hitz Towing and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department It was a horrible situation and we will not forget your help and your support.
