IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
Search and Rescue Officer David Lee Van Buskirk
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada, the e agency responsible for county-wide operations. LVMPD SAR is an accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Associaton.
Tour: 13 years, 9 months, Badge # 6482
David Van Buskirk, 36, a native Nevadan, passed away July 23, 2013 while performing a rescue.
David was preceded in death by his father, Red; and brother, Michael.
David is survived by his loving wife, of 11 years, Adriana; his mother, Pat; sister, Jenny; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
David was employed by Metro since 1999 and joined the elite SAR Team in 2007. Within the Search and Rescue Team, David provided support as a Mountain Rescue Team Leader, Tactical Emergency Medical Support Coordinator, Helicopter Crew Chief and Tactical Medic for LVMPD SWAT. He saved many lives and took pride in being able to do so.
He loved his family and friends immensely. He had a fabulous sense of humor and showed love to everyone. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
David will always be remembered as a man of integrity, honesty and great courage. His life cannot be summed up in a few lines, but will be forever missed by family and friends.
David leaves many great memories to a family that loved him dearly. He was the epitome of what a true husband, son, uncle and brother should be. Not a day will go by that we will not miss his sense of humor and penchant for inserting a quick-witted comment at just the right moment. It is these memories of him that we will cherish until we join him.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m.-noon Monday, July 29, with services following, both at both at Central Christian Church, 1001 New Beginnings Drive.
Burial following, at Palm Valley View Memorial Park, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.
On July 22, 2013 at approximately 8:54 p.m. the LVMPD Dispatch Center received a call from an individual stating he had become stranded on a rock ledge while hiking in the Mary Jane Falls area of Mount Charleston.
A Metro Search and Rescue helicopter responded to the scene, and at approximately 10:10 p.m. located the victim. Because of the dangerous terrain it was determined the victim would be rescued by utilizing the helicopters internal rescue hoist to lower a Search and Rescue Officer down to the victim. The victim and rescuer would then be hoisted together back into the aircraft.
Officer David Van Buskirk, 36 years of age, was lowered to the victim. Officer Vanbuskirk attached a rescue device to the victim and signaled for the helicopter to begin hoisting them up into the aircraft. As the pair was being hoisted into the helicopter Officer Vanbuskirk somehow became detached from the hoist line, falling into the canyon below. The victim remained attached to the hoist cable, and was safely hoisted into the aircraft.
Additional rescue personnel and rescue aircraft immediately responded and located Officer Vanbuskirk. The exact distance Officer Vanbuskirk fell is still under investigation, however the fall was non-survivable and he perished on impact.
Officer Van Buskirk had been employed by LVMPD since October, 1999, and had been assigned to the Search and Rescue Section since February, 2007.
CARSON CITY – Governor Brian Sandoval issued the following statement regarding the death of Las Vegas Police Search and Rescue Officer David Van Buskirk:
"Kathleen and I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and loved ones of Officer Van Buskirk. His death is a tragic reminder of the dangers our first responders are exposed to on a daily basis. His service to his community, state and country will not be forgotten."
Note: David was a direct descendant of Laurens Andriessen Van Buskirk who emigrated to the colonies from Holstein, Denmark (now in Germany) about 1654. (Source: Graver # 47293042)
Search and Rescue Officer David Lee Van Buskirk
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada, the e agency responsible for county-wide operations. LVMPD SAR is an accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Associaton.
Tour: 13 years, 9 months, Badge # 6482
David Van Buskirk, 36, a native Nevadan, passed away July 23, 2013 while performing a rescue.
David was preceded in death by his father, Red; and brother, Michael.
David is survived by his loving wife, of 11 years, Adriana; his mother, Pat; sister, Jenny; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
David was employed by Metro since 1999 and joined the elite SAR Team in 2007. Within the Search and Rescue Team, David provided support as a Mountain Rescue Team Leader, Tactical Emergency Medical Support Coordinator, Helicopter Crew Chief and Tactical Medic for LVMPD SWAT. He saved many lives and took pride in being able to do so.
He loved his family and friends immensely. He had a fabulous sense of humor and showed love to everyone. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
David will always be remembered as a man of integrity, honesty and great courage. His life cannot be summed up in a few lines, but will be forever missed by family and friends.
David leaves many great memories to a family that loved him dearly. He was the epitome of what a true husband, son, uncle and brother should be. Not a day will go by that we will not miss his sense of humor and penchant for inserting a quick-witted comment at just the right moment. It is these memories of him that we will cherish until we join him.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m.-noon Monday, July 29, with services following, both at both at Central Christian Church, 1001 New Beginnings Drive.
Burial following, at Palm Valley View Memorial Park, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.
On July 22, 2013 at approximately 8:54 p.m. the LVMPD Dispatch Center received a call from an individual stating he had become stranded on a rock ledge while hiking in the Mary Jane Falls area of Mount Charleston.
A Metro Search and Rescue helicopter responded to the scene, and at approximately 10:10 p.m. located the victim. Because of the dangerous terrain it was determined the victim would be rescued by utilizing the helicopters internal rescue hoist to lower a Search and Rescue Officer down to the victim. The victim and rescuer would then be hoisted together back into the aircraft.
Officer David Van Buskirk, 36 years of age, was lowered to the victim. Officer Vanbuskirk attached a rescue device to the victim and signaled for the helicopter to begin hoisting them up into the aircraft. As the pair was being hoisted into the helicopter Officer Vanbuskirk somehow became detached from the hoist line, falling into the canyon below. The victim remained attached to the hoist cable, and was safely hoisted into the aircraft.
Additional rescue personnel and rescue aircraft immediately responded and located Officer Vanbuskirk. The exact distance Officer Vanbuskirk fell is still under investigation, however the fall was non-survivable and he perished on impact.
Officer Van Buskirk had been employed by LVMPD since October, 1999, and had been assigned to the Search and Rescue Section since February, 2007.
CARSON CITY – Governor Brian Sandoval issued the following statement regarding the death of Las Vegas Police Search and Rescue Officer David Van Buskirk:
"Kathleen and I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and loved ones of Officer Van Buskirk. His death is a tragic reminder of the dangers our first responders are exposed to on a daily basis. His service to his community, state and country will not be forgotten."
Note: David was a direct descendant of Laurens Andriessen Van Buskirk who emigrated to the colonies from Holstein, Denmark (now in Germany) about 1654. (Source: Graver # 47293042)
IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
Search and Rescue Officer David Lee Van Buskirk
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada, the e agency responsible for county-wide operations. LVMPD SAR is an accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Associaton.
Tour: 13 years, 9 months, Badge # 6482
David Van Buskirk, 36, a native Nevadan, passed away July 23, 2013 while performing a rescue.
David was preceded in death by his father, Red; and brother, Michael.
David is survived by his loving wife, of 11 years, Adriana; his mother, Pat; sister, Jenny; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
David was employed by Metro since 1999 and joined the elite SAR Team in 2007. Within the Search and Rescue Team, David provided support as a Mountain Rescue Team Leader, Tactical Emergency Medical Support Coordinator, Helicopter Crew Chief and Tactical Medic for LVMPD SWAT. He saved many lives and took pride in being able to do so.
He loved his family and friends immensely. He had a fabulous sense of humor and showed love to everyone. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
David will always be remembered as a man of integrity, honesty and great courage. His life cannot be summed up in a few lines, but will be forever missed by family and friends.
David leaves many great memories to a family that loved him dearly. He was the epitome of what a true husband, son, uncle and brother should be. Not a day will go by that we will not miss his sense of humor and penchant for inserting a quick-witted comment at just the right moment. It is these memories of him that we will cherish until we join him.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m.-noon Monday, July 29, with services following, both at both at Central Christian Church, 1001 New Beginnings Drive.
Burial following, at Palm Valley View Memorial Park, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.
On July 22, 2013 at approximately 8:54 p.m. the LVMPD Dispatch Center received a call from an individual stating he had become stranded on a rock ledge while hiking in the Mary Jane Falls area of Mount Charleston.
A Metro Search and Rescue helicopter responded to the scene, and at approximately 10:10 p.m. located the victim. Because of the dangerous terrain it was determined the victim would be rescued by utilizing the helicopters internal rescue hoist to lower a Search and Rescue Officer down to the victim. The victim and rescuer would then be hoisted together back into the aircraft.
Officer David Van Buskirk, 36 years of age, was lowered to the victim. Officer Vanbuskirk attached a rescue device to the victim and signaled for the helicopter to begin hoisting them up into the aircraft. As the pair was being hoisted into the helicopter Officer Vanbuskirk somehow became detached from the hoist line, falling into the canyon below. The victim remained attached to the hoist cable, and was safely hoisted into the aircraft.
Additional rescue personnel and rescue aircraft immediately responded and located Officer Vanbuskirk. The exact distance Officer Vanbuskirk fell is still under investigation, however the fall was non-survivable and he perished on impact.
Officer Van Buskirk had been employed by LVMPD since October, 1999, and had been assigned to the Search and Rescue Section since February, 2007.
CARSON CITY – Governor Brian Sandoval issued the following statement regarding the death of Las Vegas Police Search and Rescue Officer David Van Buskirk:
"Kathleen and I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and loved ones of Officer Van Buskirk. His death is a tragic reminder of the dangers our first responders are exposed to on a daily basis. His service to his community, state and country will not be forgotten."
Note: David was a direct descendant of Laurens Andriessen Van Buskirk who emigrated to the colonies from Holstein, Denmark (now in Germany) about 1654. (Source: Graver # 47293042)
Search and Rescue Officer David Lee Van Buskirk
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada, the e agency responsible for county-wide operations. LVMPD SAR is an accredited member of the Mountain Rescue Associaton.
Tour: 13 years, 9 months, Badge # 6482
David Van Buskirk, 36, a native Nevadan, passed away July 23, 2013 while performing a rescue.
David was preceded in death by his father, Red; and brother, Michael.
David is survived by his loving wife, of 11 years, Adriana; his mother, Pat; sister, Jenny; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
David was employed by Metro since 1999 and joined the elite SAR Team in 2007. Within the Search and Rescue Team, David provided support as a Mountain Rescue Team Leader, Tactical Emergency Medical Support Coordinator, Helicopter Crew Chief and Tactical Medic for LVMPD SWAT. He saved many lives and took pride in being able to do so.
He loved his family and friends immensely. He had a fabulous sense of humor and showed love to everyone. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
David will always be remembered as a man of integrity, honesty and great courage. His life cannot be summed up in a few lines, but will be forever missed by family and friends.
David leaves many great memories to a family that loved him dearly. He was the epitome of what a true husband, son, uncle and brother should be. Not a day will go by that we will not miss his sense of humor and penchant for inserting a quick-witted comment at just the right moment. It is these memories of him that we will cherish until we join him.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m.-noon Monday, July 29, with services following, both at both at Central Christian Church, 1001 New Beginnings Drive.
Burial following, at Palm Valley View Memorial Park, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.
On July 22, 2013 at approximately 8:54 p.m. the LVMPD Dispatch Center received a call from an individual stating he had become stranded on a rock ledge while hiking in the Mary Jane Falls area of Mount Charleston.
A Metro Search and Rescue helicopter responded to the scene, and at approximately 10:10 p.m. located the victim. Because of the dangerous terrain it was determined the victim would be rescued by utilizing the helicopters internal rescue hoist to lower a Search and Rescue Officer down to the victim. The victim and rescuer would then be hoisted together back into the aircraft.
Officer David Van Buskirk, 36 years of age, was lowered to the victim. Officer Vanbuskirk attached a rescue device to the victim and signaled for the helicopter to begin hoisting them up into the aircraft. As the pair was being hoisted into the helicopter Officer Vanbuskirk somehow became detached from the hoist line, falling into the canyon below. The victim remained attached to the hoist cable, and was safely hoisted into the aircraft.
Additional rescue personnel and rescue aircraft immediately responded and located Officer Vanbuskirk. The exact distance Officer Vanbuskirk fell is still under investigation, however the fall was non-survivable and he perished on impact.
Officer Van Buskirk had been employed by LVMPD since October, 1999, and had been assigned to the Search and Rescue Section since February, 2007.
CARSON CITY – Governor Brian Sandoval issued the following statement regarding the death of Las Vegas Police Search and Rescue Officer David Van Buskirk:
"Kathleen and I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and loved ones of Officer Van Buskirk. His death is a tragic reminder of the dangers our first responders are exposed to on a daily basis. His service to his community, state and country will not be forgotten."
Note: David was a direct descendant of Laurens Andriessen Van Buskirk who emigrated to the colonies from Holstein, Denmark (now in Germany) about 1654. (Source: Graver # 47293042)
