A police officer from southern New Mexico, killed in the line of duty earlier this year, is set to be honored at a national level. The police chief has noted that it has been a challenging year for the Las Cruces Police Department.
In its 96-year history, the Las Cruces Police Department had never lost an officer in the line of duty until this year. Now, during National Police Week, Las Cruces officers will make their annual trip to Washington, D.C., for the first time to honor one of their own.
Chief Jeremy Story stated, “We’ll visit the memorial wall where his name will already be etched.” Officer Jonah Hernandez will be inducted at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in May 2025, among many others.
“Having an officer on the wall honored during the candlelight vigil services means a lot for the department. I wish we were just continuing our trend of going to support other departments that have lost officers, but this helps bring closure to our officers and, even more importantly, to his family,” said Chief Story.
Officer Hernandez was responding to a trespassing call when he was stabbed in what police described as an “unprovoked attack.” The suspect was subsequently shot and killed by a nearby witness, while Hernandez succumbed to his injuries. Chief Story aims to provide support to the late officer’s wife and two children during this difficult time.
“I wish I could send the whole department,” Story expressed. Those closest to Hernandez and other officers who managed the traumatic call will escort his family upon their arrival at the memorial.
“They’ll witness an Honor Guard from various departments, but I want them to see our department because we are their family, and we need to be there for them during this difficult period,” he added.
With limited funding, the traffic section of the agency hopes to send more than the four motors that current funding allows. There is a fundraising effort underway to help supplement costs, with the city investing a considerable amount of money to facilitate their presence, including assistance from the city manager’s office.
When asked about the emotional weight of honoring an officer from his department at a national level, Chief Story replied, “I won’t say it feels good. I would much rather not have to do this, but I believe he deserves recognition for the sacrifice he made. He was just doing his job, a job he loved, and that our officers continue to perform every day. Unfortunately, some officers don’t continue their duties because their lives are taken.”
Other local officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2023, such as Officer Anthony Ferguson from the Alamogordo Police Department and Michael Moran from the Cortez Police Department, were honored at last year’s event. The Las Cruces Police Department’s Traffic Division is actively raising funds to send their full fleet to D.C. to escort Officer Hernandez’s family.
