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Months after his dad, Investigator Mario Herrera, died in the line of duty, Carlos Herrera will be joining the Lincoln Police Department this June. The announcement came two days before the fallen officer’s birthday and a week before Law Enforcement Memorial Week.
Carlos Herrera said he always wanted to be a police officer. As a kid, he remembered his dad, Mario Herrera, wearing the “cool” police officer uniform.
"Growing up and getting to hear his stories, and all the experiences that he had, and just getting to listen to how much he got to help people, and make a positive impact in their life," he said. "Just really made a profound impact on me."
Mario was the first Lincoln police officer killed on the job in more than 50 years. He was a Spanish-language translator during a tense attempted arrest when he suffered three gunshot wounds and passed away last September.
Months later, Carlos has his family’s full support for becoming a Lincoln police officer.
"My biggest goal is just to go out and help people every day just to be a positive impact on somebody's life as much as I can," he said.
Carlos is interested to work as a narcotics investigator. He will join the police department after his graduation from the academy in June.