Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet set for May 6

ALAMOGORDO — For the third consecutive year, Otero County will show their 14 local law enforcement agencies just how much residents appreciate them.

The annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet is the brainchild of the Otero County Law Enforcement Appreciation (LEA) committee, a group of residents that also provides year-round support to law enforcement.

"We used to have these here way back in the day," said LEA Chair Rocky Galassini. "When we moved here in the 80s, they used to have the 12th Judicial District's Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet and name an officer of the year. Then, for some reason, 10 years ago it just stopped."

Galassini said she woke up one day and thought to herself that it was time to start the appreciation banquets up again.

"They deserve it," Galassini said. "These officers put their lives on the line for us every single day. To me, they are our warriors and soldiers at home. They protect us as the soldiers that are deployed to protect the people of wherever they are. We have to support them, anarchy would happen if we didn't."

The 2017 banquet will include dinner, entertainment, a video tribute and selecting an officer of the year.

In the running for officer of the year are Special Agent Zacharia Balla with Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detective Kyle Graham of the Alamogordo Police Department, Special Agent Danica Kaydahzinne with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Officer Wilfredo Lavoe with Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Officer Fabian Picazo with New Mexico State Police, Deputy Dustin Flores of the Otero County Sheriff's Department, Agent Franco Cereceres with U.S. Border Patrol and Investigator Douglas Coolidge of the 49th Security Forces Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base.

This year's guest speaker is Randy Sutton, who is a spokesman for Blue Lives Matter. Sutton's police career spanned three decades before he retired as a field lieutenant with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Sutton was one of the most featured officers on the TV shows “Cops" and “America’s Most Wanted.” Sutton also had roles in films such as “Casino,” “Fools Rush In,” and “Miss Congeniality II.”

"It's pretty nice to be recognized by the community," said Alamogordo Police Chief Daron Syling. "It's a big morale booster for law enforcement and most importantly, it shows our involvement with community as law enforcement."

Border Patrol Community Liaison Kenneth Greenough said the banquet solidifies that Otero County is unique in comparison to most counties around the state.

"We have a huge involvement with each other, as far as agencies go," Greenough said. "To have this committee be there and be able to appreciate all of us who wear different uniforms, but do the same job is nice and keeps us all together as a tight-knit community."

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish District Supervisor Jason Kline said the camaraderie between law enforcement and the local community makes law enforcement across the state jealous and that vacancies within his agency are filled quickly because of it.

"You look anywhere in national news and you'll see law enforcement just getting kicked in the teeth over everything we do, second guessed over every decision we make," Syling said. "This appreciation committee is just an example of the community we live in. Do we have naysayers in the community, of course we do, but I could not think of a better place to work than Alamogordo, Otero County and the local surrounding areas because we do have the support."

Syling said the community's support was especially important to them last September, when Alamogordo Police officer Clint Corvinus was killed in the line of duty.

"When we went through that tragedy last September, maybe 5 minutes passed before Rocky and other members of the community were on the phone asking me what we needed," Syling said. "Whether it's a tragedy or something great, they're there to hold us up or toot our horn. It's an example of a wonderful community and the place we call home."

The Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet is May 6 at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 2290 Hamilton Road. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at oteroleoappreciation.mountainparkweb.com or at Direct Mail Services, 1111 10th St.