Begaye-Nez Administration Advocate for Memorial

Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez attended the inaugural Fallen Warriors event at the Youth Complex. The Begaye-Nez administration is moving forward with developing a memorial to honor fallen officers of the Navajo Police.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.— the 2016 Navajo Nation fitting to honor our heroes Delmar said, “The Navajo Nation Vice President Fallen Warriors event at the forever,” he added. Fallen Warriors recognition Jonathan Nez has long Shiprock Youth Complex, The gym was filled to turned out to be a fabulous advocated for construction of featuring a bike run by the capacity. The Shiprock High event for the family of the a memorial to honor Navajo Honor Riders. School Junior ROTC posted 11 Navajo Policemen who Police who reached the end of “We must remember our colors, followed by the lost their lives in the line of watch during their service to fallen officers and honor National Anthem by Miss duty, while working for the the Navajo people. them for their public service Northern Navajo Teen Nicole Navajo people. I feel this Eleven Navajo Police of protecting and serving Keeswood. After an observed recognition was long overdue lost their lives in the line of the Navajo Nation,” Vice moment of silence for the and I certainly thank the duty, a clear indication that President Nez said. “Thank fallen, the dispatcher from police officers who made this public servants in the law you to the Navajo Police for the Shiprock Police District happen.” enforcement field put their your dedicated service and moved the audience, as she The families of the lives on the line daily. selfless public duty.” called out the names of fallen Navajo fallen officers The Navajo Police officers The event featured a officers during the Last Roll received plaques dedicated who bravely gave their 21-gun salute while Jim Call. to the memory of their fallen lives for the Navajo people Lynch performed “Taps” and Delmar thanked the warrior. They were engraved are: Alex K. Yazzie, Ernest “Amazing Grace” on bagpipe. participation of the Navajo with the message, “When a Jesus Montoya Sr., Darrell “I am deeply humbled to Hopi Honor Riders for their police officer is killed, it’s not Cervandez Curley, Wilsonfred be among these true Navajo participation and spoke about agency that loses an officer, it A. Filfred, Esther Todachenee, heroes,” Vice President Nez the national observance of is an entire nation.” Samuel Anthony Redhouse, said. “I am also grateful to fallen officers. There are 248 tribal police Hoskie Allen Gene, Andy the families of these brave He said, “It is only officers and 35 criminal Begay, Roy Lee Stanley, warriors who gave their appropriate that we respect investigators working for the Loren Whitehat, and Burton very lives for our safety and the fallen officers of our Navajo Nation, an area that Begay. freedom. tribal police. May 15 to 21 stretches more than 27,000 On May 15, Vice President “The Begaye-Nez is National Police Week and square miles across three Nez and Jesse Delmar, Navajo administration recognizes we reach out to our fellow states. Navajo Police are Division of Public Safety their sacrifices and will begin officers nationally and honor trained using the Arizona Executive Director, attended to create a Navajo Nation their fallen officers, too.” Peace Officer Standards and Training. in the line of duty throughout The Office of the President U.S. history, dating back to and Vice President thank the 1791. Navajo Police, especially Standing watch over the Shiprock District, for the marble walls are two their valuable assistance and sculptures of lions with a resources to honor their fellow quote from Roman historian officers and their families. Tacitus: “In valor there is On July 10, 2015, Vice hope.” President Nez made an The names of 11 Navajo unscheduled visit to the Police officers are also carved National Law Enforcement in the walls. Each spring, the Officers Memorial in new names of fallen officers Washington, D.C. Jackson are added to the monument, Brossy, Navajo Nation in conjunction with National Washington Office Executive Police Week. Director and executive On May 15, Navajo Vice President Nez visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in protection services officer Policeman Alex K. Yazzie’s Washington, D.C. last summer and was moved by the names of the fallen, especially Marwin Joe accompanied name was etched into the the Navajo officers. Vice President Nez. wall and his family was in Joe, an officer with the Washington, D.C. for the Navajo Police, said there was event. no memorial on the Navajo Hanging directly above Nation honoring the police Vice President Nez at his officers killed on duty. He workstation are the names said the only monument that of three Navajo Policemen once existed was located at whose names he rubbed the tribal police academy on paper at the national in Toyei, Ariz., long since memorial. defunct. One of those names is “We need to have a police officer Joshua Yazzie, memorial to honor our fallen a former officer with the officers,” Vice President Nez Ute Tribe, was among the said. names on the wall. There He made pencil rubbings is undoubtedly countless of the names of Navajo other Navajo officers at Policemen inscribed in the memorial who worked Navajo Police Officer Darrell C. Curley is listed among the names at the national marble. During this process, for other law enforcement memorial. Vice President Nez said the agencies. monument was inspirational “They are there to remind and a reminder to everyone me every day,” he said about that police officers put their the sacrifices Navajo Police lives on the line daily. make daily on behalf of the “We are at a point in our tribe. history where police across The Begaye-Nez the country are under intense administration continues public scrutiny and negative dialogue on construction opinion. However, we must of a memorial to honor never lose sight of the fact Navajo fallen officers. The that these dedicated public Navajo Nation Police Week servants serve the public Proclamation is forthcoming. trust,” Vice President Nez said. The memorial featured two curved marble walls, each stretching 304-feet in length, with the names of more than Navajo Nation Washington Office Executive Director Jackson Brossy, Navajo 20,000 police officers killed Policeman Marwin Joe, Vice President Jonathan Nez and executive staff assistant Rick Abasta paid their respects to the fallen.