Deputy Peter Herrera’s act of kindness to San Elizario family

Deputy Peter Herrera was just 35 years old when he was shot and killed during a traffic stop in San Elizario .

News of his death impacted one San Elizario mother who recalled the time she and her husband were pulled over by Deputy Herrera.

Marlene Godinez says in late 2018, she and her husband were driving in Socorro when Deputy Herrera pulled them over.

Godinez’s 5-year-old daughter was in the backseat, she was scared and started to cry, but Deputy Herrera was able to calm her down and ease her fear.

” He actually took the time to care for her, seeing how she was scared and crying, ” Godinez said. ” It was something very nice for him to do and very caring. ”

Deputy Herrera ended up letting Godinez and her husband go with just a warning, but before he departed he handed Godinez’s daughter a stuffed pony.

” And she grabbed it, and she hugged it, ” Godinez said. ” She hugged the little stuffed animal. It was something very emotional for us to see that. ”

Upon learning of Deputy Herrera’s death, Godinez shared the story on Facebook.

Godinez wanted the community and Deputy Herrera’s family to know about his simple act of kindness, a day they will never forget.

” We’re always going to remember him because of that and that little stuffed animal that we have, ” Godinez said. ” I actually did tell my daughter to take care of it because it’s an honor that we actually got a gift from him, so it’s something that we get to cherish, we get to value and that it came from a hero like Deputy Herrera. ”

Godinez says the family has named the stuffed pony, Sheriff Peter.