Behind the Badge
For any student who walks across the stage to receive his or her diploma, it’s a special day. But June 10 was more than just a special day for Daxton Beck. It marked three years and two days since his father, Alyn Beck, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer, was fatally shot in an ambush attack at a restaurant while on his lunch break.
And while his father couldn’t be there to celebrate his graduation, Beck had no shortage of supporters in the stands. More than 100 members of the department served as stand-ins at the Arbor View High School graduation, cheering in unison as Beck’s name was called.
“They’ve always been there supporting me, so having them here is just a big get-together of support,” Daxton told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It’s just mind-boggling.”
The sea of uniformed officers drew lots of attention, but sent an unmistakable message: We haven’t forgotten.
“It’s been just over three years since the senseless murder of these two officers (Beck was slain along with Officer Igor Soldo), and we don’t want their children to think we’ve forgotten (Beck) or his services to this community,” said Scott Nicholas, vice president of the officer’s union, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association. “It’s very emotionally charging for us to be here and to see his success as he grows up as a young man.”
As students poured out of the arena, officers met Beck on the red carpet with hugs and congratulations. He proudly stood for photos with the department. His smile was just another sign of his resilience and determination to make his father proud.
