SAD NEWS

We received some very sad news on Sunday, June 26. A member of our Bishopric, Brother Darrell Cervandez Curley, who was a Sgt. in the Navajo Nation Police was shot and killed when responding to a domestic violence call here in Kaibeto. It has been very hard on his family, our ward, the community, and those who knew him through church or police work in many parts of Arizona and New Mexico. He had a wonderful testimony of the Gospel and was a leader to his fellow officers. His example has touched so many lives.

There was a memorial and dinner for family and friends in Chinle, Arizona (where he grew up) on Monday night with over 300 people in attendance. Tuesday night there was another just like it in Page, Arizona. Church members and friends in the community contributed all the food.

At 3:00 am Saturday a police escort left the mortuary in Flagstaff, AZ to bring his body through Tuba City, Kayenta, and then onto Chinle. At each stop more officers joined the procession. They arrived at 8:00 am. The funeral was held in Chinle at the Stake Center. The chapel and cultural hall were filled to capacity and extra chairs were set up all over the building and still some had to stand.

Besides officers from police districts from all over the state, also attending was the President of the Navajo Nation, a representative from the Bureau of Indian Affairs from Washington, DC, a representative from the governor of Arizona, and the Director of the Navajo Nation Dept. of Public Safety.

As the funeral began Brother Curley's casket was brought in with an escort of police officers and a bagpiper. There had been police officers on guard with his body since he went down. During the funeral the guards were changed every few minutes to give all of them an opportunity at this service. Before the Eulogy was read, the Governor's representative gave sister Curley a folded Arizona State flag. It was uplifting to hear many stories how he had helped or been a positive influence on others. At the conclusion the bagpipes played "Going Home."

We joined the very lengthy police escort for an hour-long drive to the burial site. There were many people by the roadside waving or with their hands over their hearts along the way. The family plot was in a beautiful, peaceful canyon outside of Fort Defiance, Arizona. What a contrast to the crowded cemeteries we are used to with the power lawn mowers driving over the burial sites once a week.

It was heart wrenching to see the officers show such love and respect as they carried out these last rites to lay their friend and fellow officer to rest. After the bagpipes played "Amazing Grace," we heard the dispatcher make the "Last Sign Off for Sgt. Curley" over the police radio. Then Elder Payne dedicated the grave.

After the burial there was a reception at the Nakai Hall in Window Rock. They were expecting 2,000 to attend. The Navajo Nation supplied most of the food with more coming from the two closest LDS stakes.

We are so grateful we were able to know and love Brother Curley.