Deputy laid to rest like a true hero

Amid friends and family from around New Mexico and Arizona, law enforcement officers remembered Christopher Tsosie, 43, a veteran policeman with the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, who died Jan. 25 in Crownpoint as he was about to start work. He was laid to rest Feb. 1.

The veteran officer’s family mourned alongside his “brother” police officers. They wore their dress blue and grey or brown uniforms trimmed with gold. They gathered together in the Rehoboth Christian School gymnasium to celebrate and honor Tsosie’s life.

There were law enforcement personnel from the Navajo Nation, the New Mexico State Police, the Pueblo of Zuni and Sandoval and Cibola counties.

“He was the kind of person that if he was faced with a bad situation, he would flip it and make it positive,” Donovan Becenti, an evidence technician with the Navajo Nation Police Department, said. Becenti and Tsosie worked together for years at the Navajo Nation Police Department. “He loved where he was from (Crownpoint). Sometimes, he’d refer to himself as ‘the mayor of Crownpoint.’”

The Navajo-born Tsosie, who worked in Navajo Nation law enforcement for more a little more than a decade, died of undisclosed causes. An autopsy report by the state Medical Examiner’s Office should be complete in about two to three weeks, officials have said.

Still, Tsosie’s effect upon co-workers and the public left lasting memories, according to the near-300 well-wishers who attended the funeral and Wednesday’s End of Watch ceremony.

“Just a great, great, fantastic person,” McKinley County Sheriff Ron Silversmith said. “He was the consummate professional. He was good at what he did.”

McKinley County Commissioner Bill Lee described Tsosie’s professional and personal approach in life in three words: courageous, caring and compassionate.

“These words speak out as to who he was,” Lee said. “He spent 14 years serving the community. We have lost a great man.”

Tsosie was interred at Sunset Memorial Park along West Historic Highway 66. The city’s west end area was blocked off for about 45 minutes to accommodate the lengthy funeral procession.

At the ceremony, Silversmith provided an opening prayer, Ret. Navajo Nation police officer Sandy Ramone gave the eulogy, and Gallup police officer Chavo Chischilly sang a remembrance song and played the guitar and harmonica.

“He was a great person to know and work with,” Lt. Pat Salazar of the MCSO, said. “He will be missed.”

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent

MCSO grief-stricken

By Babette Herrmann
Sun Editor

Deputy Christopher Tsosie was known as a the quiet guy who always showed up to work on time at the McKinley County Sheriff's Office. Like any good employee, his dutifulness kept him flying below the radar.  

Tsosie, 43, had recently reached the one year milestone at MCSO, and Sheriff Ron Silversmith saw an experienced deputy ready to grow within the department. His future was bright. He was someone that didn't need micromanaged or held by the hand. Sadly, his life was cut short Jan. 25 while he was reportedly getting ready for his shift, which started at 6 pm.

At this juncture, there's no clear answers as to what went wrong that day, but he was found at home unresponsive and later pronounced dead at Crownpoint Health Care Facility – the hospital closest to his home.

Silversmith said preliminary autopsy results are "inconclusive," but the Office of the Medical Investigator should have the full autopsy report within the next two to three weeks.

Shocked and saddened, Silversmith said Tsosie was "an awesome guy."

"I am going to miss him."

He noted Tsosie's positive outlook on life and professionalism the first time the two met. Prior to working for the MCSO, Tsosie was an interrogator for the Navajo Nation Police for 13 years, handling criminal investigations, which appealed to Silversmith.

"We had big plans for him," he said.

Those big plans entailed moving him to the investigations unit so his years of experience as an interrogator/investigator could be put to good use to help solve the tough cases.

"He's such an experienced interrogator," Silversmith said. "He was good at what he did."

Under Sheriff Paul Lucero, who had a hand in hiring Tsosie, called him an "excellent deputy."

"We're sad to lose him," he said.

At the Sheriff's department Friday, staff and friends gathered in the break room for a buffet-style meal. A few in attendance had watery eyes and tear-stained faces.

There was some laughing and talking, but what stood out most was the strong sense camaraderie among deputies and staff.  

Outside of the station, Tsosie's patrol unit #41 sat with an American flagged draped across the hood, adorned with flowers and a framed photo of him with a big smile on his face, giving a thumbs up. Back inside of the sheriff's station, a table was set up with a framed photo of him and bouquets of flowers on either side.

A note on one bouquet read: "You're in our thoughts and prayers. Condolences."  

Funeral services will take place 10 am Wednesday at the Rehoboth sports and fitness center.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent

The body of a deceased Native American male was found at about 2:30 pm on Jan. 25 at Father Dunstan Park on Gallup’s south side. The park is in the midst of a residential area and is across the street from Gallup Catholic High School.

An official cause of death hasn’t been determined.

“Yes, the body of a male was found,” Capt. Marinda Spencer, public information officer with the Gallup Police Department, said. “We are still investigating the situation.”

Spencer said a passerby discovered the body, believed to be in his early 40s. She said the passerby spotted a community service aide and from there police officials were notified.

Spencer also said the body was fully clothed and there didn’t appear to be evidence of foul play. She said the official cause of death and a ruling of potential foul play couldn’t be confirmed until the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator completes an official report.

Father Dunstan Park is one of a handful of ball parks used by Gallup’s Little League baseball and softball teams in the summer. Spencer said the body was discovered in one of the dugouts at the park.

Two people have filed to challenge Yogash Kumar for a District 3 city council seat, while Linda Garcia of District 1 won’t face anyone – at least for now, according to data from the city clerk’s office.

The candidate field could grow since a write-in deadline is Jan. 24.

“The candidate deadline to file was Jan. 17,” Gallup City Clerk Al Abeita said. “There is still time for write-in candidates to file.”

A retired municipal legal employee, Garcia was elected in 2013 on a platform that included beautification, improving infrastructure and re-establishing neighborhood associations. Garcia’s neighborhood meetings are held frequently. Kumar is a hotelier with holdings in Gallup and Albuquerque. He was elected in 2013.

WHO’S RUNNING SO FAR?

Angela Chavez and Esco Chavez filed to run against Kumar.

“There are things that I want to focus on if I’m elected,” Angela Chavez said. Chavez owns and operates Angela’s Café which is located inside the Gallup Cultural Center. She’s originally from Michigan.

“We have to be more visible in the community and I want to hold more community meeting,” she said. “Of course I want to put an emphasis on infrastructure and things along those lines.”

Kumar previously ran on a platform that included economic development through tourism and infrastructure improvement. Kumar serves on the city’s lodgers tax committee and is a mainstay in local and state circles when it comes to tourism and marketing.

City of Gallup councilors serve four-year staggered terms and earn an annual salary of $15,000. Esco Chavez is a former city parks and recreation director who unsuccessfully ran for mayor a few years ago.

Esco Chavez was part of the grass roots group that spoke out numerous times at meetings about not closing the former Harold Runnels Swimming Complex on East Montoya Boulevard. That matter went all the way to the 11^th Judicial District Court in McKinley County.

The election is March 14.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent