AARON SANDERFORD
Nebraska Examiner
RALSTON — The Nebraska State Patrol, hundreds of Nebraskans and law enforcement officers from more than 20 states paid respects Thursday to Trooper Kyle McAcy, who died on duty Feb. 17.
Gov. Jim Pillen, speaking to McAcy’s family during the public funeral at Ralston’s Liberty First Credit Union Arena, said he was “incredibly proud” of how McAcy “represented our state.”
“On behalf of the state of Nebraska, I simply want to say thank you for sharing your hero,” Pillen said.
Patrol Superintendent Col. John Bolduc said McAcy loved people and his job: “If you tried to keep pace with his hunger for work or conversation, you would finish a tired second place.”
Others have described him as someone who made time for people, including for the teachers and students where he previously attended school in Millard.
On Thursday, Omahans filed along a processional route from south-central Omaha funeral home to the Ralston arena, where officers saluted his casket on the way in.
McAcy, a 10-year Patrol veteran with ties to the Omaha suburbs, started in North Platte as part of the Patrol’s Carrier Enforcement Division. He worked his way home.
In addition to Carrier Enforcement, McAcy worked in the Patrol Division and as a crisis negotiator. He often responded to wrecks and people in need as he did earlier this month.
The Patrol has said he was struck by a snowplow while he and other troopers were responding to a winter weather-related crash along Interstate 80 between Ashland and Greenwood.
McAcy leaves behind a fiancé, Spencer Ryan, his parents, Teresa and Kavin McAcy, and his sister, Bethany McAcy.
