Service plans to honor area's fallen officers

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The Gallup Police Department is seeking information from family members of police officers who were killed in the line of duty for its upcoming memorial service.

The service is scheduled for May 16 at 10 a.m. at the Emanuel Baptist Church. Deputy Chief Don Raley said the department plans to honor officers from multiple agencies, including the city, sheriff's, Navajo and state agencies.

For the past two years, the service has focused on Gallup police officers.

However, the event's planners want to expand the service this year to honor all fallen officers in McKinley County and surrounding reservation agencies. The department is asking family members to provide photographs, video or other information about their fallen officer.

Raley said the photographs will be scanned at the department and immediately returned to the families. Following the service, attendees will be able to browse displays about some of the officers.

"We just wanted to give a more personal touch," he said. Raley is hoping to gather all of the photographs and video by the end of the month to allow time to prepare for the service.

Anyone with information about these officers or any other local officer who died while on duty, is asked to contact Lt. Craig Meo at 863-9365.

Gallup Police Department

• Officer Louis Silva
  Died on Sept. 15, 1930 in gunfire
  
  
• Chief of Detectives
  John B. Arviso
  Died on Sept. 11, 1965 in gunfire
  
  
• Patrolman Ronald Baca
  Died on Jan. 3, 1986 in a motorcycle accident
  
  
• Officer Larry Brian Mitchell
  Died on May 30, 2001 in gunfire
  
  
• Barney Montoya
  Died on Sept. 4, 1977 in a motorcycle accident
  
  
• Richard Madrid
  Died in May of 1958 in an aggravated assault

McKinley County Sheriff's Department

• Sheriff Mack R. Carmichael
  Died on April 4, 1935 in gunfire

Window Rock Police Department

• Constable George W. Lockhart
  Died on Feb. 12, 1887 of an unidentified cause
  
  
• Officer Burton Begay
  Died on Nov. 17, 1975 in gunfire
  
  
• Officer Loren Whitehat
  Died on May 10, 1979 in gunfire
  
  
• Officer Roy Lee Stanley
  Died on Dec. 5, 1987 in gunfire
  
  
• Officer Andy Begay
  Died on Dec. 5, 1987 in gunfire
  
  
• Sgt. Hoskie Allen Gene
  Died on Jan. 6, 1996 in an assault
  
  
• Officer Samuel Anthoney Redhouse
  Died on Feb. 17, 1997 in gunfire
  
  
• Officer Esther Todecheene
  Died on June 8, 1998 in an automobile accident
  
  
• Officer Winsonfred A. Filfred
  Died on April 2, 1999 in an automobile accident

New Mexico State Police

• Patrolman Lloyd R. Aragon Sr.
  Died on Aug. 1, 2001 in an automobile assault

Federal Bureau of Investigation

• Truett E. Rowe
  Died on June of 1937