Thousands of people attended the vigil Thursday of the off-duty Las Vegas police officer who was killed during the massacre that killed 58 people during the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Charleston Hartfield was recognized as an officer, a Nevada Army National Guard sergeant first class and a youth football coach. He was also remembered as a great husband and father of his two children.
“[Charlie] loved his country and his city. He is the most patriotic person I’ve ever met,” an officer who worked with Hartfield said.
His family were front and center at the vigil held at Police Memorial Park in Las Vegas. The space was also filled with law enforcement and military officers from across the country who came to raise a candle for the fallen hero.
“He loved his wife and children, so, so much,” said one of his colleagues.
And more talked about his good character: “He led his life with honor, dignity and a great capacity for others,” another detective said.
A number of Las Vegas and Nevada dignitaries were present including Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman.
“I thought the turnout was incredible, out of respect and love and loss,” she told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We are together. We’ve always been together. This is a great community.”
Our thoughts are with his family.