Megan Arredondo MARREDONDO@ABQTRIB.COM/ 823-3602
Copyright 2006 Albuquerque Tribune
Support can come in a variety of forms.
Sometimes it’s a few extra bodies.
Sometimes, it’s a shoulder to lean on.
Sometimes, it’s both.
Albuquerque Police Department officers, stung by the loss of two of their own in August, rolled to Tijeras in force this morning, hoping to help in whatever way they could after the shooting death of a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department deputy.
“We offered anything Bernalillo County (Sheriff’s Department) needs,” APD spokeswoman Trish Hoffman said. “We know we have a larger department, so any extra officers that can assist are out there.”
Although the main focus this morning is on trying to locate the suspect, Michael Paul Astorga of Albuquerque, Hoffman said APD has sent psychologists and chaplain services to assist grieving deputies and the victim’s family.
Albuquerque police know the difficulties all too well.
In August, Officers Richard Smith, 46, and Michael King, 50, were shot and killed as they attempted to take an Albuquerque man, John Hyde, to Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital for a mental health evaluation.
“Once something like that happens, the entire department gets involved,” Hoffman said.
She said officers face difficulties when trying to handle two roles at the same time - dealing with the stress of finding the suspect, while grieving at the same time for a fallen colleague.
Although Albuquerque police and the Sheriff’s Department operate separately, they come together on matters such as this.
“It was another law enforcement officer,” Hoffman said. “He was part of our family.”
Although the work continues, the memories and grief last a long time, Hoffman said.
“I don’t know if it’s something you ever really get over,” Hoffman said.
March 23, 2006