Honeysuckle Park now Ian Deutch Memorial Park
Honeysuckle Park now Ian Deutch Memorial Park
by Genesee Martin
Pahrump Mirror Staff
The morning was bright and clear for a somber gathering during the official name changing ceremony at Ian Deutch Memorial Park on Saturday, September 4. At 9 a.m. Honeysuckle Park officially became Ian Deutch Memorial Park before assembled family, friends and community to honor the fallen officer.
“We’re honored to be here and to present this name change of the Honeysuckle Park to Ian Deutch Memorial Park. He was a good officer and a good man. It’s a pleasure to honor him,” town manager William Kohbarger told the gathering in opening the ceremony and presenting the marker. The marker, planned to match the stone sign that graces the Pahrump Town Office, initially brought controversy due to its price. The town board voted unanimously for the signs despite arguments against.
“He would have been really amazed. I know he would be honored to see how many people turned out for this,” Jay Deutch said of his brother at the ceremony. Voice cracking with emotion, Deutch went on to say that his brother was proud of the community and of the people he worked with. His brother was honored to serve his country and protect his neighborhood and community.
Ian Deutch came home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and returned to work with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office. Within days of his return to duty as a sheriff’s officer, he was shot while responding to a domestic violence call that took him to the parking lot of Terrible’s Lakeside Casino on April 26. He was life-flighted to Las Vegas where he later died of his injuries. The man who shot him was also shot and killed by responding officers.
"I know that he was proud of his life and I think he would have really liked this, to know how many people supported him." -Jay Deutch
The brief ceremony started with the presentation of the colors by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard. The reciting of the pledge was followed by brief speeches from Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo, town manager William Kohbarger and town board member Vicky Parker, as well as Deutch. To complete the event, the wife of the fallen officer, his daughter and stepson unveiled the large sandstone marker that now declares the park to be Ian Deutch Memorial Park.
The park was the second location to be renamed in honor of fallen officer Ian Deutch. The former Pahrump Government Complex which houses the courts and the district attorney’s offices was renamed the Ian Deutch Government Complex during a Nye County Commissioners meeting on May 17 of this year.
-Article reproduced here with permission from the Pahrump Mirror.
