A 30-year-old Pueblo police officer who died in the line of duty last year was among those memorialized Friday morning at a law enforcement ceremony in Golden.
Pueblo patrol Officer Nicholas “Nick” Heine collapsed from heart failure while running to an early-morning street fight June 21.
His name and those of three other Colorado officers killed years ago in the line of duty were added Friday to the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial at Camp George West as part of the ceremony.
“We’re grateful for their service to our great state, and this is our humble way of memorializing them,” said Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener, who acted as master of ceremonies.
Heine, a trim and fit officer, worked the graveyard shift and trained rookies on how to make arrests. Before collapsing, he had shown no signs of health problems related to his heart.
He is survived by his wife, Melissa, and two young daughters, Nicole and Rebecca. His mother, Patricia Heine, is a corporal with the Pueblo Police Department and oversees the crime-prevention program.
Pueblo Police Chief James Billings said Heine showed great promise to be a detective.
“Nick’s loss really hit us hard. None of us ever would have anticipated that something like this would have happened to him,” Billings said.
Heine’s wife, who attended the ceremony, wants to become a Pueblo police officer and is working toward that goal.
Also honored at the service were:
• Alexandar Brighton of the Trinidad Police Department, who died Jan. 22, 1909.
• Jesse B. Craig Sr. of the Rocky Ford Police Department, who died July 4, 1911.
• Jacob A. Kipper, also of the Rocky Ford Police Department, who died July 4, 1911.
Friday was Colorado Law Enforcement Day and the 30th anniversary of the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial. Gov. Bill Ritter laid a wreath at the monument for all officers killed in the state.
“These brave men and women — and their families — deserve every ounce of gratitude we can give,” Ritter said. “They put their lives on the line to serve and protect us day in and day out; and for that, they will forever have our deepest respect and our eternal debt and gratitude.”
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
