‘Someone that cared about everyone’, Hundreds gather to honor Crete Police Chief Gary Young

CRETE, Neb. (KLKN) – The energy at Tuxedo Park in Crete on Monday morning was somber, as hundreds of law enforcement officers gathered from all over Nebraska to pay their respects to Police Chief Gary Young.

Chief Young’s funeral took place at 10:00 a.m., inside Ag Hall at the park.

The media was asked to wait outside, reserving the private farewell for Chief Young’s loved ones and law enforcement family whom he dedicated his life to.

“I’m just happy to see so many people come to pay their respects to a great man,” said Lancaster County Chief Deputy Ben Houchin.

He said he knew Chief Young both professionally and as a friend.

The two trained together in the Nebraska FBI National Academy.

Houchin said Chief Young was one of the most ethical and loyal individuals he knew, adding that no one could say one bad thing about him.

“And Crete, you know, they have 14 to 16 officers, once we heard what happened, so many agencies stepped up,” he said.

“Us at Lancaster County, Nebraska State Patrol, the Lincoln Police Department, Omaha Police, I mean, I could go on.”

Houchin’s statement was apparent at Tuxedo Park, as the grounds were covered with patrol cars from Clay County, Butler, Fillmore, Thayer, Grand Island, David City and many more.

After the ceremony concluded, one woman told Channel 8 that everything said about Chief Young during the service was accurate.

Another attendee explained how he drove more than four hours, with no hesitation, to be at the funeral.

After it was over, the procession began, led by a motorcycle brigade.

Red, white and blue lights sparkled as the hearse carrying Chief Young’s body made its way to Highway 33.

The coffin was draped in an American flag.

Crete native Scott Skala was at work when the procession passed through.

His manager graciously took over his duties, so that he could say his final goodbye from outside their store.

“It took a little while for them to get up here, but all the traffic stopped on the highway, then when they saw all the police bikes coming over the hill… that was very humbling too, just knowing that there’s a lot of respect for him,” said Skala.

Skala, once a business owner in Crete, says he had known Chief Young for decades like so many others in the community.

“He was kind of a friendly face in the police department,” he said.

“He was just someone that cared about everybody. It didn’t matter what you did, but you were going to be taken care of, though,” said Skala.

The procession successfully made it through Crete, then Lincoln, bringing Chief Young’s body to his final resting place at the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.