Rio Rancho Officer Killed In Motorcade Crash Honored

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) – The funeral was held Friday for a Rio Rancho motorcycle officer who was killed in a crash while helping lead President Bush’s motorcade to the Albuquerque airport early this week.

Officers from around the state attended the services in Rio Rancho for Officer Germaine Casey. A motorcade escorted his casket to the burial at Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque. The 40-year-old officer was near the front of the motorcade when he crashed Monday afternoon.

The White House sent Bush’s homeland security adviser, Fran Townsend, and Secret Service head Mark Sullivan to the funeral on behalf of the president. Flags also flew at half staff in honor of Casey, the first Rio Rancho police officer to die in the line of duty.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)