YUMA, Ariz.– For the first time since 1977, the San Luis Police Department has the beginnings of a complete honor guard unit.
San Luis Police Department Officers Jose Carillo and Emmanuel Aldama graduated Nov. 4, 2015, from the Honor Guard Training Course sponsored by Yuma Border Patrol Sector.
San Luis Police Officers Jose Carillo and Emmanuel Aldama graduated today from Yuma Border Patrol Honor Guard training.
Training was conducted by Border Patrol agents Fernando Salazar (Yuma Sector Honor Guard Commander), Joel Cruz, and Abraham Garcia. The latest class of Honor Guard trainees included the SLPD officers and three Yuma Sector agents.
BPA Salazar explained that the course included 10 full workdays of training that began October 21 and concluded November 3.
“The primary purpose of the Honor Guard, ”BPA Salazar says, “is to render final honors for a fallen agent or officer in a manner that is solemn, dignified and professional. The trainees received instruction in duties including Color Guard activities, flag folding, casket carrying, honor watch and firing of the volleys (rifle salute). These may sound simple, but achieving a unified progression takes a lot of skill, practice and training.”
In regards to the SLPD officers, the goal is to get a group trained over time, and then spokespersons for the unit will approach the San Luis City Council to seek funding support for uniforms and equipment.
Although their primary duty is to render appropriate honors to the fallen, they will also participate in other public ceremonies including parades, meetings and more.
Expressing his gratitude to the Yuma Sector Honor Guard for its assistance in training his officers, Lt. Victor Figueroa, acting San Luis Police Department Chief of Police, emphasizes, “These two officers will be the building blocks of what the department plans to continue to grow into a Honor Guard Team for the City of San Luis. We will continue to work closely with USBP to hone and sharpen our skills. I have complete faith that Yuma Border Patrol Honor Guard can help us achieve our goal of making this the start of what will be future generations of SLPD Honor Guard Teams to come”
Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony J. Porvaznik, acknowledged the gratitude offered by the SLPD official and pointed out, “The importance of the Honor Guard cannot be understated, especially when one of our agents or officers loses his or her life in the line of duty. It is our duty, and our privilege, to recognize such sacrifice with honor and respect. Rendering the final honors to our fallen becomes our priority, and it is extremely important to the families, as well as fellow brothers and sisters in law enforcement. I commend these agents and officers who have the discipline to achieve excellence in the skills required to become Honor Guard members.”