The Associated Press
DEMING, N.M. (AP)- Operation Lucky Man was a success.
Dozens of marked and unmarked vehicles from the Deming Police Department and Luna County Sheriff’s Department descended late Thursday on the county jail with their emergency lights flashing.
Spotlights from the vehicles illuminated the side door of the main building where the county dispatch center is housed.
Deming Police Det. Lt. Matt Rudiger stepped from his police car, bouquet of roses in hand. The dispatch center door opened and out walked a surprised Tara Weatherford.
Rudiger offered the roses, fell to his knee and proposed.
“Our relationship is like a rose,” Rudiger told Weatherford, “and every day it gets bigger and better.”
She said yes and he slipped a ring on her finger.
The couple has been dating for about six months. Rudiger, who is originally from Animas, has been with the Deming department for two years. Weatherford, a Deming native, has worked at the dispatch center for three years. Her father was a police officer.
“I was a little overwhelmed,” Weatherford said.
She had noticed the light behind the door and Rudiger had told her over the radio he was outside. She opened the door and responded, “Oh, my God.”
With an affirmative answer to his question, Rudiger faced the gathered officers, deputies, detectives and investigators and raised his right hand in salute. Those at their cars activated their sirens.
Rudiger said Operation Lucky Man was planned down to the last detail, including his timed arrival at the dispatch center door.
As far as the wedding date, he said, "(that) is up to her.”