Senior Police Officer Alex K. Yazzie, Navajo Division of Public Safety, Tribal Police

Senior Police Officer Alex K. Yazzie

Navajo Division of Public Safety, Tribal Police

End of Watch Thursday, March 19, 2015

Alex K. Yazzie

Senior Police Officer Alex Yazzie was shot and killed near Red Valley, Arizona, while pursuing a subject who had shot at another officer who had responded to a domestic violence call in Little Water Trading Post, New Mexico, shortly after 4:00 pm.

The initial call involved a report of a barricade situation in which a subject armed with an AR-15 rifle was holding his family hostage. The man opened fired on responding officers and then fled across state lines into Arizona, approximately 29 miles away. The man opened fire on officers a second time after they located him in Red Valley at approximately 10:30 pm.

Officer Yazzie was fatally shot and two other officers were wounded during the shootout. The suspect was also killed during the gunfight.

Officer Yazzie was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Navajo Division of Public Safety for 14 years.

Bio

Age 42
Tour 14 years
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Location Arizona
Weapon Rifle; AR-15
Offender Shot and killed

Most Recent Reflection

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While I did not know officer Yazzie, my family is the beneficiary of an Autism Medical Service Dog named in his honor from Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers [SDWR]. SDWR (www.sdwr.org) names all of its dogs after fallen officers and Officer Yazzie is one of many brave officers who have been nominated by his peers for this honor. Our dog, Yazzie, is a 14-month-old golden retriever. While still training to become a full-fledged autism service dog, he was placed with our family to assist our 4-year-old son, Ethan. Yazzie is trained to tether walk with Ethan and herd him should he become separated from his parents; to keep Ethan out of the street and away from danger. He is also there for tantrums, ready to give doggy hugs and kisses, even lay on Ethan's chest to apply core body pressure to calm Ethan down. And finally, Ethan wakes every 60-90 minutes at night. Unable to put himself back to sleep or "self soothe" we (my husband Ed and I) are forced to get out of bed to put him back to sleep again and again each night. We are utterly exhausted. The exhaustion has paid a toll on our marriage and ability to give our older daughter all she needs. By Yazzie sleeping with Ethan it is our hope that Ethan will roll over, hug Yazzie, and go back to sleep.

I know there can be no consolation for the loss of a loved one but I wanted you to know his memory lives on in us and a 14-month-old highly trained golden retriever named Yazzie. Just as officer Yazzie kept watch over his charge; so now does a dedicated service dog named in his honor.

Margaret Ng
Owner of "Yazzie," an Autism Medical Service Dog named in his honor

November 20, 2017