Officer Tye Pratt Law Enforcement Fund:

April 13, 2006 - By Sarah Schulz

First Tye Pratt memorial scholarship given at LETC graduation

As they do at each Law Enforcement Training Center graduation, those gathered to see their loved ones join law enforcement's ranks observed a moment of silence to honor fallen officers.
On Thursday, that moment was driven home when Mike and Rita Pratt presented one of the graduates with the first scholarship established in honor of their late son, Jason Tye Pratt.

Pratt was an eight-year veteran of the Omaha Police Department when he was shot during a foot pursuit in north Omaha on Sept. 11, 2003. He died eight days later.

"Tye was not great because of the way he left this world but because of the way he lived," Michael Pratt said. "Tye loved what he did -- probably for the same reason you've chosen your noble professions -- because he wanted to help people."

After Tye Pratt died, his family began selling custom-made wristbands in his honor and donated the proceeds to the Boys and Girls Club of Omaha. The first bands, which sell for $29.95 each, featured a diamond-etched photo of Tye and a written memorial on aircraft aluminum. Now a variety of photos, etched images and sayings are available.

The proceeds go to the Officer Tye Pratt Law Enforcement Fund at the training center. A $350.00 grant will be given to one student three times every year at each of the three sessions to help them purchase body armor or other necessary equipment.

The recipient from the 164th basic class was Travis King, a 43-year-old father of five who is restarting his law enforcement career in Fremont after serving with the Rollins, Wyo., Police Department. King's wife also suffers from medical problems, Pratt said as he presented the scholarship.

Pratt said the scholarship was offered through an application process and knew it was going to be tough to decide who should get the money. He said after reading all the applications, he was shocked by the graduates' nominations of King.

"It was kinda overwhelming," Pratt said.

He hadn't expected the men and women applying to do so for someone else but said he shouldn't have been surprised due to the unselfish nature of those who go into law enforcement.

In addition to the grant, the Pratts presented King with a personalized Tye band featuring the Fremont Police Department's badge and the words "Thank you for your courage."

After the ceremony, King said he didn't know he would be receiving the grant and hadn't yet decided how he would spend the money.

The Pratts also presented the training center staff with a plaque that features a photo of Tye Pratt and the slogan "These are the bands that tie us all together."

The plaque is to symbolize the first Tye bands, which were made of solid brass. On Thursday graduate Christifer Folkerts, who received a non-law certification, received one of the brass bands along with a $350.00 check from the fund.

The idea that their new professions could cost them their lives wasn't lost on the graduates. During his address to his fellow students, Jerry Esch of the Hastings Police Department, gave the instructors a plaque as a thank you for all their hard work.

"You've saved all our lives," he said. "It just hasn't happened yet."

Published Thursday
April 13, 2006
MIDLANDS Section - by Kevin Cole.

A 30-year old Beatrice man received a $350 award from the Officer Tye Pratt Law Enforcement Fund today during graduation ceremonies at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island.

Chris Folkerts received the award named in the honor of Omaha Police Ofc. Jason "Tye" Pratt, who was slain in September of 2003 by a fugitive running from a traffic stop.

Pratt's father, Mike Pratt of Valley, NE made the presentation award. The award will be given to one graduate from each of the academy's three yearly training sessions.

Mike and Rita Pratt also made a special award of $350 to Travis King of Fremont, NE. King is a 43-year-old graduate of the academy who moved to Nebraska with his wife and 5 children after serving six years on the Rawlings, Wyo. Police force.

"Officer Kings story was one that really touched our hearts," Mike Pratt said. "We wanted to make a separate award from us, not the fund, to him".

Officer Tye Pratt Law Enforcement Fund

The Officer Tye Pratt Law Enforcement Fund awards $350.00 to one recipient of each of the three Basic Training Session to help with the financial cost of new Law Enforcement Officers noble endeavor.

In addition to the $350.00 cash award the recipient will also receive a very special NLETC Tye Band made of Solid Brass, diamond cut with his or her name, session # and year in front, NLETC logo on the left side and Ofc. Tye Pratt Law Enforcement Recipient engraved on the right side. Also, a duplicate of this special Tye Band hangs from the Officer Tye Pratt Law Enforcement Plaque which is permanently displayed at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center FOREVER. The name of each session recipient Tye Band will be posted at www.TyeBand.com/NLETC.html which at this time receives over sixty thousand hits a month nationally.

For more back ground on this Fund... Click HERE.

For more NEWS on what this Fund is doing...
Click HERE.

Ofc. Tye Pratt's mother Rita Pratt, Director of the NLETC Rick Barnica, Tye's father Mike Pratt

Click on picture above to see full size

To read more about this special TyeCard© and it's message please click... Here

The Tye Band is a wonderful way to Display Case your hero. For a look a some unique Display Cases click... Here