Family of fallen Ceresco police officer speaks out after sentencing of man responsible

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The family of late Ceresco police officer Ross Bartlett says the last two years have been traumatizing, as they awaited the sentencing of the man responsible for Bartlett’s death.

Bartlett was killed in the line of duty while conducting a traffic stop when driver Kevin Pierce crashed into his cruiser, later killing Bartlett.

Bartlett’s daughter, Tiffany Yant, says the family tried to remain silent during the many hearings in the case to avoid influencing the outcome.

“There’s no amount of time that will make us feel whole or make us feel like justice was served, but we are thankful that the judge is holding Tony Pierce accountable for his choices,” she said.

Yant says she’s grateful Pierce will finally serve time.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln man sentenced in crash that killed Ceresco police officer in 2024

“This wasn’t an accident. This was a choice that you made. You didn’t see the flashing red and blue lights, you didn’t slow down, you didn’t hit your brakes, you didn’t see him. You made a temporary choice, a temporary decision for your life, but it was permanent for ours,” she said.

Bartlett worked as a serviceman several times over within his 30-year career.

Once a volunteer EMT, then a fireman for the Ceresco Fire Department, and later a police officer for the Ceresco Police Department.

Nearly two years after the tragedy, Yant remembers her dad as more than a serviceman for his community.

She describes him as a dedicated father with a sarcastic sense of humor, a husband with a duty to protect his wife, and a jovial grandpa.

“He was one of a kind,” said Yant. “We talk about him, we tell stories about him, we make sure the kids are comfortable talking about him. The more we talk about him, the more he stays a part of our lives”.

She goes on to say that, unfortunately, part of Bartlett’s legacy is that he died in the line of duty, but it has given her a new mission.

“Bringing awareness to distracted driving is my number one goal,” she says.

Yant says that her family would not have been able to get through this without the outpouring of support received from the community across the state.

“It was overwhelming. We couldn’t even keep up, so thank you to everyone that does support our law enforcement and our first responders and our families,” she said.

“We wouldn’t have gotten through it without their support, the two big ones for sure, Nebraska state patrol, the Ceresco fire department, hands down, all day long, we couldn’t do this without them,” said Yant.

Many of those items were received from across the community and were memorialized in a spare bedroom in their home. Still, the most significant memorial of all is the home itself.

They came together to name the six acres they live on, “Legacy acres,” in honor of Bartlett — a place where they all live together, with pieces of him all around.

The family says he will always be remembered by the service members he trained over the years, but those looking to donate can give to Give Blue Hope, an organization that supports families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.