Police Blotter: Ramah police, corrections officers take oath of office

WINDOW ROCK

Council Delegate Edmund Yazzie (Churchrock/Iyanbito/Mariano Lake/Pinedale/Smith Lake/Thoreau) recently attended the Ramah Navajo Department of Public Safety Oath of Office and Employee Recognition Ceremony, in which several new police and corrections officers and dispatchers were officially sworn in to serve in the Ramah Navajo Agency, according to a news release from the speaker’s office.

Yazzie, a former law enforcement officer and chair of the Law and Order Committee, commended the officers and expressed support from Council regarding public safety and for the judicial/public safety complex currently being constructed in Ramah.

“Council is very supportive of what Ramah is doing and it’s not going to stop.

We will do what it takes to finish the new Ramah police department and judicial center,” said Yazzie.

“This has been the goal of the community and it is coming to completion.”

Construction of the judicial/public safety complex will cost approximately $3.8 million and would accommodate up to 40 inmates.

It will house two padded cells, a detox cell, booking area, detaining area, interview room, officer station, visitor check-in, storage area, medical room, and laundry room.

The judicial/public safety complex began construction in May 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in September 2015.

In 2009, funding was secured by the U.S. Department of Justice through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for construction on 15 acres of Trust Land.

In addition, Navajo Nation contributed $400,000 to fund the facility, including New Mexico TIF, CTAS Grant, Federal Highway Administration Funds, and Navajo Nation Capital Improvement Funds.

Ramah Navajo Police Chief Darren Soland thanked tribal leaders for supporting the Ramah Navajo Department of Public Safety and congratulated the newly sworn in officers.

“My focus today is to remind and assure the public, and remind our officers, we are here to serve and protect the members of our community.

It is our duty to provide a valued service every day when you put on that uniform and come to work,” said Soland.

Yazzie served with the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office for 17 years and worked for Ramah Navajo Police for one year.

He said public safety employees serve in a job capacity that is challenging.

“The Navajo Nation is certainly proud of the newly sworn in officers and they have a large job ahead of them to ensure the safety of the people in this area, and in corrections.

I know it won’t be easy, but I think they are the best of the best,” said Delegate Yazzie.

Also in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony were Ramah Navajo Chapter officials, the Navajo Nation Police Department, the McKinley County Sheriffs Office, and the New Mexico State Police.

FBI seek help in finding driver who hit, killed man near Shiprock

SHIPROCK – The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety are asking for the public’s help in finding the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a man east of Shiprock on March 4.

The crash occurred at approximately 9:35 p.m. at milepost 24.5 on U.S. 64, just outside Shiprock, on the Navajo Reservation.

The vehicle, which left the scene, is believed to be a 2001 to 2003 Ford Ranger, probably harvest gold in color, with front grill and windshield damage.

The vehicle was likely heading westbound when it hit the man.ÊThe man’s name is being withheld until positive identification can be made.

Investigators want to talk to anyone who may know who was driving the vehicle, or who may have been in the area around the time the man was struck.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI (24 hours) at 505-889-1300.

New Mexico State Police are assisting in this investigation. Tips also can be submitted online at https://tips.fbi.gov.

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