LAS VEGAS -- James Manor graduated from Clark High School in 1999, but he was fondly remembered by teachers who knew him as “Jamie.”

“I knew he was a good kid, and that kind of kid you would want to be a police officer,” said teacher Phil Bombino.

Manor, 28, died early Thursday morning after a pickup truck pulled in front of his police cruiser near Flamingo Road and Ravenwood Avenue. Police said the driver whose vehicle hit Manor's had been drinking.

In a news conference following the accident, Metro Sheriff Doug Gillespie described Manor as a hard worker, a trait educators said he showed at a young age.

“He showed tremendous leadership skills, because he helped other children, he was involved in a myriad of extracurricular activities,” said Principal Ronnie Smith, who knew Manor when he attended Hyde Park Middle School.

Upon hearing the news of Manor’s death, “Memories began to just flood my mind about how jubilant he was, just a happy go lucky child,” Smith said.