REMEMBRANCE OF OUR FALLEN COMRADE, SGT TAPIA

Sgt. Manny Tapia

Come and join us on January 12^th, 2013 to remember Sgt. Manny Tapia #1409.  We will first start with a burrito breakfast on Rio Rico Drive, be shuttled onto Interstate 19 for the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup and from there we will meet at his Memorial Site on North Grand Avenue for a small service.  Afterwards, we will meet at Officer Ibarra’s residence for food and refreshments.

(You can attend all or any one of the three events; you do not have to participate in all three events.)

Schedule and Location directions:

0830 TO 0900 Hrs – Breakfast burritos to help start the Adopt-A-Highway clean-up.  We will be meeting at a dirt parking lot on the right side of Rio Rico Drive in Rio Rico. Get off on Exit 17 on Interstate 19 and go East 1/8^th of a mile on Rio Rico Drive. (The Adopt-A-Highway clean-up will start here.)

0900 (Is start time) to 1100 Hrs – Sgt. Manny Tapia’s Adopt-A-Highway clean-up, is on Interstate 19 between kilometer 17 and kilometer 15 (a mile and a half stretch).  (Water will be provided.)

1130 to 1230 Hrs –“Sgt. Manny Tapia’s Memorial service”, site is on the East side of North Grand Avenue (Business 19), next to the rail road tracks, between the Quality Inn (Americana Motel) and the Pizza Hut.  You can get off at Exit 8 and go south into Nogales or you can take I-19 all the way south into Nogales and then make a left hand turn onto North Grand Ave. and go north. (South will take you into Mexico.)

1300 Hrs – Lunch for everyone, at 1425 Cena Court, Rio Rico.  From the memorial site, you go North on I-19 to Exit 17, make a right on Rio Rico Drive, make a left on North Pendleton drive, make a right on Camino Mirador, and then make a left onto Cena Court. (Look for the sign on N. Pendleton Dr.)

“Sgt. Tapia was shot on Jan. 7^th, 1991, in Nogales by a drug suspect. He died on Jan. 8^th, 1991, at Tucson Medical Center. Sgt. Tapia was assisting a Nogales police officer with a traffic stop.  Upon asking the suspect to open the vehicle’s trunk, the suspect fled on foot with Sgt. Tapia in pursuit. The suspect then turned and shot Sgt. Tapia.  The suspect was fatally shot by the Nogales police officer.”

If you plan to attend, please call, text or email by January 5th, so that we know how much food & beverages we need to provide. Contact information:  Officer Cosme R. Ibarra #5555, #520-313-7116, cibarra@azdps.gov.

Hope to see you there, “Courteous Vigilance & Semper Fi.