Small Town Mourns Fallen Police Officer - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Small Town Mourns Fallen Police Officer

Maureen Wurtz

ASHLAND, Neb. (KPTM)- A small town police department is trying to pick up the pieces after one its ten officers was hit by a car and killed Tuesday night.

 Officer Daniel Ottis died Tuesday night after a truck hit his motorcycle. Neb. State patrol officials said a truck was turning in the eastbound lane of Highway 6 Tuesday when it was rear ended by another pickup. The truck was forced into the eastbound lane, hitting Otis' motorcycle.  Ottis was pronounced dead at the scene.

 "Hard for us being a small agency," said Ashland Police Chief, Mark Powell. "I hired Dan ten years ago, other than myself he's the longest person at this department."

 Ottis was a police officer in Ashland for 10 years. He'd been in other Eastern Nebraska Police Departments for a total of 35 years.

 The Ashland Police Department only has 10 officers.  Powell said, Ottis was one officer who really knew the community. "(Trash isn't a good thing.) There was one yard in particular that needed some attention," remembered Powell. "And rather than go and give that guy his ticket, and make him clean up, Dan went over there off duty and helped the guy."

 "It's just hard losing a person who got along with everyone in the community," said one Ashland resident, Jeremy Strahan.

 A sign hangs in Ashland's town square, "We Will Miss you Mr. Ottis."

"It's not easy losing someone like him," said Powell.

 Ottis was more than just a police officer.  He was also a rider in the Patriot Guard. That's a group of bikers that provides security for military funerals.

Ottis's son,  Eric, was also a police officer who was killed in car accident in 2002.

Ottis's funeral is set for Monday at 10 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ashland.