Bureau of Indian Affairs Law Enforcement to hold 15 th Annual Memorial Service for Fallen Police Officers

(Washington, D.C.) – James E. Cason, Associate Deputy Secretary announced today that the BIA Office of Law Enforcement Services (OLES), in conjunction with the Indian Country Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police will hold its 15 th Annual Indian Country Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Service on May 4, 2006. The service is to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice made by American Indian law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty while serving on Indian lands. The Memorial Service will begin at 10:00 A.M. (local time) at the BIA Indian Police Academy in Artesia, New Mexico.

“Each year we add another name of a fallen officer to pay tribute to the sacrifice they made in the line of duty,” Associate Deputy Secretary James W. Cason said. “It honors them and reminds us that freedom from crime is not free.”

This year, Senior Patrol Agent (SPA) Nicholas D. Greenig from the U.S. Border Patrol will have his name added to the granite memorial. On March 14, 2006, Agent Greenig was involved in a fatal, one car accident while serving in an undercover operation on the Tohono O’Odham Nation in Arizona. Born in 1978 in Sheridan, WY, Special Agent Greenig grew up near Billings, MT. In December 2002 he joined the U.S. Border Patrol with the 535th Academy session. He graduated second in the class and was assigned to the Ajo Station Disrupt Unit in Arizona. He is credited with apprehending 20-30 alien smuggling loads and 3-5 narcotics loads per month. SPA Greenig is the first Border Patrol Agent to have their name engraved on the Indian Country Law Enforcement Officers Memorial bringing the total number of names to eighty seven.

The keynote address will be delivered by W. Patrick Ragsdale, Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs who has had a long history of involvement with Indian Country law enforcement. David Aguliar, Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol will be a special guest speaker. John Chavers, Ph.D., Chief of the Indian Police Academy will serve as the Master of Ceremony. Dewayne and Darla Greenig, parents of Special Agent Greenig will attend the service and will be presented with a plaque and traditional Indian Star Quilt by the Indian Country Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Committee.

The Indian Country Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial site is constructed with Native American symbolism and traditional plants incorporated into the design. The three granite stones are surrounded by a cement/aggregate surface forming a circle around the vertical slabs with an opening to allow for access. Sage, a plant with spiritual significance, is planted in the four directions to consecrate the hallow ground. Four planter areas are filled foliage surrounded by white, red, yellow, and black stones to signify the four colors of mankind on the Earth.

The original Indian Country Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial was dedicated on May 7, 1992 at the BIA’s Indian Police Academy (IPA), in Marana, Arizona. The Memorial was later moved to Artesia, New Mexico and re-dedicated on May 6, 1993 when the BIA Indian Police Academy was relocated to New Mexico.

A 750 person department, the BIA Office of Law Enforcement Services provides uniformed police services, detention operations, and criminal investigation of alleged or suspected violations of major federal criminal laws in Indian Country.

For specific information or directions to the event call 505/748-8151 ext. 5751.

Note to Editors: Credentialed media covering the event should be in place by 9:45 a.m. Press seating will be provided. The program will begin at 10:00 a.m.

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