Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The sheriff said he’s done his part to honor a slain deputy.
But the widow said the sheriff hasn’t done enough - and intimidated her to the point that she feared for her safety.
Tonia Harris, widow of Sandoval County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Joe Harris, accused Sheriff John Paul Trujillo of berating and bullying her this month at the Rio Rancho Walmart because he was upset with negative media attention he has received. Tonia Harris filed a report with Rio Rancho Police detailing the confrontation.
Trujillo acknowledged that he spoke with Tonia but said he never bullied or acted in an aggressive manner toward her.
The soured relationship stems from a ceremony honoring fallen officers in Washington, D.C. Tonia Harris claims Trujillo hasn’t taken the initiative to raise money for Joe Harris’ family to attend the event.
Joe Harris was fatally shot in July during a stakeout in the Jemez Mountains by a suspected serial burglar and murderer, who also was killed during the gun exchange.
According to a police report, Trujillo approached Tonia Harris at the store earlier this month and questioned her about media reports that claimed he hadn’t helped the Harris family raise money to attend the ceremony.
Ten-82, a charity that helps police officers, firefighters and military officers and their families in case of serious illness or tragedy, has donated $1,000 to help with the travel expenses. Harris said she will cover the rest with contributions she has received since her husband’s death.
“This isn’t a vacation,” Harris said of the trip to Washington, D.C. “It’s like a second funeral.”
Trujillo said he didn’t know Tonia Harris needed money to travel to the ceremony. The sheriff also said his office filled out paperwork to help the Harris family receive benefits from government and private agencies, including the Department of Justice.
Tonia Harris received money from the DOJ’s public officers’ benefits program. The lump sum was divided among Joe Harris’ five children and Tonia Harris.
“I’ve always appreciated the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office (for) filling out the required Department of Justice paperwork with me in an expedient way,” Tonia Harris said.
She has received several other contributions, including money from the state’s Peace Officers’ Survivors Supplemental Death Benefits.
The private agencies the Journal spoke with said they had to contact the sheriff’s office to obtain information to get donations to the Harris family.
Trujillo questioned how Tonia Harris has spent her money since her husband’s death.
Harris said she and her daughter Ally have taken two trips since her husband was killed, including one to Hawaii where the two stayed with friends. She said family friends helped finance both trips, including one during Christmas.
“I took (Ally) away for Christmas, I didn’t want her in the house without her daddy,” Harris said. “I needed to take her away so she would not be in the house she had spent past Christmases with her father in.”
She said renovations also have been done to the home, but the money to pay for them was saved prior to Joe Harris’ death.
“There is no guidebook on how to handle the situation; I’m doing the best I can for me and my family,” Tonia Harris said.
Copyright 2010 Albuquerque Journal