A co-worker's memories

Kris was a partner of mine when I worked at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and I will miss him. I recently attended the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center with Kris and was looking forward to returning back to Organ Pipe (I presently work at another park). Kris and I had made grand plans of what we would be doing once I returned. It was to be a strong hard working team in which all the members enjoyed working with each other. What more could you ask for. A beautiful place to work, a job that we love and the best co-workers.

Even as close as we are, hard working as we are and as much as we know of the park.... its not enough. How many officers in a city environment can say they were walking down a city block on a beautiful day and without warning run into a group of 100+ violators. How fast will your heart race as you, in a split second, try to figure out are they going to run or fight? In Organ Pipe and anywhere on the border this is a daily event. I know... I can't tell you how fast my heart raced. How many officers can say that on there first day of work in their L.E. position they were in on an 800+ lbs. drug seizure? At Organ Pipe I can tell you I was.. and that was only two of the four vehicles we were after.

Kris was the main reason for my return to Organ Pipe. I would hope that in this hectic time we will think a little about protecting our own backyard before running across the country to fight a war. When we can hardle catch 16-year-old kids crossing our borders with hundreds of pounds of drugs, how do we catch well armed and trained murders? My heart goes out to Kris's family, they are not some unknown persons to me, they are my family too. I hope that in my return to Organ Pipe I don't have to live this story again.

Grant Stolhand g_stolhand@hotmail.com