Services announced for fallen state police officer

Published in the Las Cruces Sun-News - June 2, 2008

LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State Police are preparing a final salute to one of their own and are asking Las Crucens to join in.

Lt. Michael Avilucea, 51, will be laid to rest Wednesday in Hillcrest Cemetery following a 10 a.m. funeral at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Officers and dignitaries from around the state and nation will attend the services to honor Avilucea, who was killed May 30 in a one-vehicle rollover while on duty in northern New Mexico.

Avilucea, who lived in Las Cruces and served as assistant commander of the Alamogordo district office as well as commander of the state's explosive ordinance disposal team, was recovering explosives in Chama when the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. in U.S. 84, three miles south of Tierra Amarilla. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Services for the 26-year state police veteran include a visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Baca's Funeral Chapel, 300 E. Boutz Road. A rosary is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, 1240 S. Espina St.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Heart. A full-honors motorcade will proceed up Picacho to Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 5140 W. Picacho Ave. Residents are invited to line West Picacho to honor the fallen officer. Gov. Bill Richardson's office confirmed Monday that flags will be lowered to half-staff at a future date in Avilucea's honor.

"That pays great homage and respect," to the native Las Crucen who died in the line of duty, said Capt. Oscar Gonzalez of the Roswell office. "We will do a normal honor guard, naturally. We are going to have a big turnout from law enforcement agencies across the board."

Peter Olson, communications director for the state police, said officers from several states plan to attend Wednesday's funeral and procession. Olson said officers were still coping with Avilucea's death.

"I think people are a little shocked, a lot sad," he said. "It's a grim reminder of how important every day is."

Officers aren't the only ones dealing with the tragic loss. Rob Avilucea, Michael's younger brother, said the family is managing the grief as best they can. He also said Michael had been eligible to retire for more than five years, but had just begun considering the option.

"He really enjoyed working and what he did. He's just real down to earth," Rob Avilucea said of his brother. "He enjoyed his men and working as a commander on the bomb team. His son Lucas was his world. He will be greatly missed."

State police officer killed in rollover

Published in the Las Cruces Sun-News - June 1, 2008

TIERRA AMARILLA — A 26-year veteran state police officer who lived in Las Cruces died Friday after a single-vehicle rollover crash in Rio Arriba County.

Lt. Michael Avilucea, 51, was pronounced dead at the Tierra Amarilla clinic, Department of Public Safety spokesman Peter Olson said.

Avilucea, assistant commander of the Alamogordo district office, was described as straightforward, dedicated to his job and skilled in what Olson said was a challenging position as commander of the explosive ordnance disposal team.

It takes a special kind of person to work the bomb team, which removes, makes safe and disposes of devices and explosives in sheds, construction sites and mines, Olson said. "Very calm, cool, nerves of steel — and all those describe Mike," he said.

Avilucea was working recovering explosives in Chama on Friday, when the crash, still under investigation, occurred at around 2:30 p.m. on U.S. 84, three miles south of Tierra Amarilla

"I think a lot of people's first impression of him was a gruff person, but I think that gruffness was a symbol of his dedication to the job. He was very concerned about doing the right thing," Olson said. "But once you got to know him, once you talked to him for a while, he was a very friendly guy willing to do whatever it took to help somebody."

Avilucea "was a policeman through and through," Olson said, a sentiment echoed by State Police Chief Faron Segotta, who called Avilucea a dedicated "state policeman's policeman."

"I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Lt. Avilucea," Segotta said. "I have known him since I started with state police in 1982."

In April, Avilucea held the honor of unveiling the Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Garden in Alamogordo, where he was based. Avilucea is the second state police officer with ties to Las Cruces to die in the last six months; Susan Kuchma, 43, was killed in an off-duty shooting last December. In June 2007, state police officer Christopher Mirabal died in a motorcycle crash in Alamogordo.

Segotta said Avilucea's "experience and passion for his job will be irreplaceable."

"He was dedicated to serving the citizens of New Mexico and loved the department dearly," Segotta said. "We will miss him very much."

Avilucea is survived by an adult son and his parents, also of Las Cruces, Olson said, and a brother, who is a retired state police officer. The family is expected to announce memorial arrangements Monday.

Gov. Bill Richardson said Saturday he will order flags to fly at half staff in honor of Lt. Avilucea, at a later date.

"My sympathies as well as the condolences of the fist lady and every New Mexican go out to the family of State Police Lt. Michael Avilucea, who was killed in the line of duty (Friday)," Richardson said. "It is a sincere tragedy when one of our law enforcement officers is killed."

Avilucea remembered as dedicated state cop

Published in the KRQE News - May 31, 2008

SANTA FE (KRQE) - A 26-year veteran of New Mexico State Police died Friday when his pickup truck rolled in Rio Arriba County as he was returning from an explosives-disposal mission.

Lt. Michael Avilucea, 51, was commander of the State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit and assistant commander of the department's Alamogordo District. A New Mexico native, he lived in Las Cruces.

Avilucea had supervised the disposal of some explosives in the Chama area and was on his way home when his truck flipped on U. S. Highway 84 a few miles south of Tierra Amarilla.

Avilucea was ejected as the truck rolled. He was pronounced dead at a clinic in Tierra Amarilla.

Investigators are still trying to learn why that happened.

Fellow officers described Avilucea was one of the hardest-working lawmen they knew. Eligible to retire years ago, he stayed on because he loved what he did, they said.

"This is a very, very sad day for the State Police," State Police Chief Faron Segotta told KRQE News 13.

Avilucea was a well-known in New Mexico law enforcement. He was the officer who talked to the media soon after fugitive Kurt Sohrbeck, who had shot a Lincoln County deputy sheriff, was himself gunned down near Cloudcroft.

Earlier this year, he worked alongside other officers to take down meth dealers in Otero and Lincoln counties.

"When duty called, no matter day or night, he went," Segotta said. "He answered the call."

Segotta flew to the accident scene as soon as he heard the news.

"I'd like to send our condolences to the Avilucea family," he said. "We're going to miss him."

It's unclear whether Avilucea was wearing a seat belt. Investigators said that's one of the things they will look into.

Veteran state police officer dies in rollover

Published in the KDBC News - May 30, 2008

TIERRA AMARILLA, N.M. (AP) - A 26-year veteran state police officer died today after a single-vehicle rollover crash in Rio Arriba County.

Lt. Michael Avilucea, 51, was pronounced dead at the Tierra Amarilla clinic.

Avilucea was a Las Cruces resident who served as commander of the state police's explosive ordnance disposal team. He also was assistant commander of the Alamogordo district office.

Avilucea was returning from Chama, where he had been on assignment to help with the recovery of explosives. The crash occurred about 2:30 p.m. on U.S. 84 about three miles south of Tierra Amarilla.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

In Memory of Lieutenant Michael Avilucea
1956-2008

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