Hundreds gathered Friday morning in Lincoln to honor fallen Ceresco Police Officer Ross Bartlett, who died last week after he was hit by a car while conducting a traffic stop near U.S. Highway 77 and Little Salt Road in Lancaster County.
Members of various public safety agencies from around the state gathered alongside Bartlett’s family, friends and co-workers at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church to remember the 54-year-old, who had worked at several police departments and sheriff’s offices in Nebraska throughout his career. He also worked for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and volunteered for the Ceresco Fire Department.
Bartlett’s casket — draped with the United States flag and escorted by pallbearers and bagpipe players — was placed at the feet of the church’s altar.
Erinn Criner, human talent director at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, spoke at the service, remembering Bartlett as a friendly man who often joked around the office.
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“Ross loved to laugh and enjoyed making other people laugh,” she said.
In his office at the Corrections Department, Bartlett was known to have an M&M dispenser and would always tell people to grab some M&M’s when they walked in before starting a meeting.
Another story described a humorous moment when Bartlett was having technical difficulties with his cellphone in front of his family.
The M&M dispenser, firefighter boots and several floral arrangements decorated the altar. The service closed with traditions from the various public service agencies, including an end-of-watch radio call, a three-volley salute and flag folding.
Members of the public lined the procession route following the service, as mourners escorted Bartlett’s body along 84th Street and down O Street to Roper and Sons Funeral Home.
“I’m here just paying my respects,” said Jeramie Church, who was waiting near the intersection of 44th and O Streets for the procession to pass by.
Church said because Ceresco is such a small community, the thought of Bartlett — a volunteer firefighter and local police officer — dying in the line of duty is sad.
Karen Burchard was also stationed near Roper and Sons for about an hour, waiting to pay her respects to Bartlett. She watched the funeral service livestream.
Burchard has family members who serve in law enforcement in the Omaha area and a fire department in Colorado; she said her brother responded to the Columbine High School shooting 25 years ago.
“I wanted (first responders) to know that their service means so much because everybody is at risk,” she said.
Bartlett was performing a routine traffic stop at around 7:40 p.m. on April 12 near the U.S. 77 and Little Salt Road intersection when a Ford F-150 crashed into his cruiser from behind as he was inside, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
Bartlett’s patrol vehicle and a Nissan Altima were parked on the shoulder of U.S. 77 about two miles south of Ceresco. The Nissan driver was also seated in his vehicle when the Ford, which was traveling south, collided with the rear of Bartlett’s cruiser, causing it to crash into the Nissan.
When first responders arrived, witnesses were attempting lifesaving measures on Bartlett, according to the State Patrol. He later died at the hospital.
Ke’vion Hill, 27, of Lincoln, was injured during the traffic stop and was transported to the hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Tony Pierce, 49, of Crete, was driving the Ford F-150 but was not seriously injured.
No citations or arrests had been made as of Friday morning in connection with the crash. The State Patrol also hadn’t released the crash report as of Friday morning.
Bartlett’s law enforcement career spanned three decades, beginning as a police officer with the Valentine Police Department. He also served for the Boone County Sheriff, Madison Police Department, Madison County Sheriff and Newman Grove Police Department.
Bartlett was born in Butte County, South Dakota. He had been married to Tina Davis since 2004, and they have two daughters.
Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood honored Bartlett on the U.S. House floor Thursday.
“He was not only a police officer,” Flood said. “Bartlett was a husband, dad, grandpa, a friend and so much more. He had a great sense of humor and he loved to serve his community.”
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