The Lincoln Police Department will have another officer named Herrera on the force beginning in June. Carlos Herrera started training at the police academy in January, four months after his father Mario Herrera died after being shot in the line of duty.
Growing up Herrera watched his dad carefully put on the same shirt, same pants and tie up his black polished boots and the weight of his father’s career would become increasingly visible as he grew into an adult. Carlos Herrera has always wanted to be a police officer.
He was influenced by his father and his uncle, Tim Cronin, both Lincoln police officers. He would listen to their stories after a long shift at work. The stories ranged from exciting, scary, and sad, but he always heard that his dad and uncle were making a difference and creating a positive impact.
Their service to the Lincoln community strongly drew him towards a career in law enforcement. “Just growing up seeing my dad and uncle working at Lincoln Police Department, it was just always an interest to me,” Herrera says. “Just getting to hear their stories and their experiences has always played a huge roll in my life.”
After high school, recruit Herrera attended UNL before joining the Marines. Many of his fellow Marines considered or started careers in law enforcement. When the time came, he started applying for law enforcement jobs.
Herrera says he found that going through the police academy helped the grieving process after his father’s death. When he is feeling challenged or things get tough, Carlos says he feels his dad motivating him and pushing him forward.
He has particularly enjoyed learning about narcotics and the science behind their effects on people. He has a desire to work as a narcotics investigator and hopes to make a difference by helping those impacted by drug addiction. While Some officers’ families and friends struggle with the idea of their loved one becoming a police officer, Herrera says he has a strong foundation of support from his entire family, his fiancé, and friends.
His mom has said that if he’s able to follow in his father’s footsteps and make an impact like he did, that would be “a pretty good deal.”