Cibola law enforcement honored

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Three law enforcement officers, two from Grants Police and one from the Cibola County Sheriff's Department, were honored Tuesday afternoon for their quick, decisive and safe response to a call in October where two Kansas prison inmates were captured.

New Mexico Secretary of Corrections, Joe R. Williams, presented each of the officers with a special award and letter of commendation from the Kansas Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz.

Grants Police Sgt. Jason Fank, Officer Jessie Nieto and Deputy Sheriff Jesse Terrazas, received the awards during a ceremony where about 40 fellow law enforcement officers, civilian support staff, family and friends applauded.

During the capture, four shots were fired at police from one of the escapees. In small, rural communities such as Grants, shots being fired at police officers is not an everyday occurrence.

The inmates, Jesse L. Bell, 35, was serving more than 20 years in maximum security in the El Dorado prison facility for forgery, burglary, battery and has a history of escapes.

The second escapee, Steven A. Ford, 26, was serving 10 years for robbery and indecent liberties with children. He was also in he maximum security prison area. Both men were in lock down 23 hours of each day.

The two had an accomplice, a former corrections officer, Amber Goff, who helped them plan and make good their escape on Oct. 28, 2007. Three days later they were captured in Grants by the three law enforcement officers being honored.

Fank said when the shots were fired, he became concerned for his safety and that of Nieto, who had responded to the call with him.

He said there was not a lot of good lighting in the area where two apartment buildings sit side-by-side.

Both said hey thought the call was going to be a routine matter of guys looking in vehicles, but it turned into a foot chase.

“When the chase started my energy just jumped to the next level,” Nieto said. “I thought it was just routine until the shots were fired.”

Terrazas said he received a call of shots fired at police officers and when responding he did not know what he was going to find.

“I didn't know whether any officers were shot or not,” he said.

There was glowing praise from departmental supervisors, the police chief, a former police chief and the county sheriff.

Former Grants Police Chief Marty Vigil, who was in the process of retiring at the time, said Tuesday that he was glad no one was hurt and that the officers did not overreact to the situation.

Current police chief, Steve Sena, who had retired from the department as a sergeant, but was just recently appointed as the new chief, said he trained Fank when he first joined the department.

“I am glad they handled the situation professionally while keeping the safety of Grants citizens and the community in mind,” Sena said.

Lt. Maxine Spidle, patrol supervisor for the police department, said it makes the police department proud that it has professional officers.

“Especially proud to know they are keeping the residents of the city of Grants and Cibola County safe.”

Lt. Corey Allen, supervisor of detectives said: “It is good to see these officers recognized.

“You hear so much about the bad police officers do, we have all vowed at the Grants police department, to bring the good out.”

Sheriff Johnny Valdez said he is proud of all his duties.

“Our deputies are called to do a tough job with limited resources,” he said.

“Jesse had just completed his field training when this occurred.

“It shows what can happen when law enforcement agencies get together and work together,” he said.

“I cannot think of a more dangerous situation a police officer faces than armed prison escapees who have nothing to lose,” Williams told the Independent.

“These guys are true heroes,” he said.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.