‘It can’t be’: Friends in disbelief after Nebraska police officer killed in line of duty
CERESCO, Neb. (KLKN) – The friends and co-workers of Ross Bartlett are honoring his memory in the village of Ceresco after he was killed in the line of duty.
Bartlett died Friday night in a crash on Highway 77.
Three days later, a rig sat in front of the Ceresco Fire & Rescue station, covered in American flags and Bartlett’s fire gear.
The display honors a man who served the community in many different ways.
SEE ALSO: Nebraska eatery raising money for family of fallen Ceresco Police officer
Bartlett served at least six different law enforcement agencies before settling in Ceresco in 2017.
Not only was he an officer in the police department, but he also worked as a criminal investigator with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.
But two jobs just wasn’t enough for Bartlett, so he joined Ceresco Fire & Rescue.
He served as a captain, training officer, firefighter and EMT.
SEE ALSO: Funeral details released for Ceresco Police Officer Ross Bartlett
That’s how he met his friend Ken Johnson in 2018.
Johnson said it’s been difficult for him to cope after Bartlett’s death. He was out to dinner with friends when the crash happened.
“The minute I got the call, I knew it was- it can’t be,” Johnson said in disbelief. “Then you get those what-ifs. ‘What if I would have been closer?’ ‘What if I would have been there?'”
SEE ALSO: Mile-long procession brings fallen Ceresco officer from Omaha to Lincoln
Johnson said Bartlett was the kind of guy anyone could go to for help.
“He was into training, making sure we were safe,” he said. “He was pretty knowledgeable with a lot of stuff with the fire department. He had been on several other departments, so if you wanted to learn anything with the fire department or anything with trucks, he was the guy to go to.”
Johnson said some of his favorite memories of Bartlett were going to fire school together every year.
He said Bartlett was straightforward, but always funny.
And though he was busy all the time, he gave 100% to every role he took on.
“He was all about every job he did with the fire department, with the department of corrections, the police department, anything,” Johnson said.
