Officer Germaine Casey - Rio Rancho (NM) PD

[Jackalope]

Bush Motorcade Crash Kills N.M. Officer

Aug 27, 9:09 PM (ET)



ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A police officer in President Bush's motorcade crashed his motorcycle and died Monday, less than a year after a crash in Hawaii killed another motorcycle officer accompanying the president.

Rio Rancho Officer Germaine Casey, 40, crashed at the Albuquerque airport at a point where a road enters an underground parking garage, said Trish Hoffman, a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Police Department. He was pronounced dead at an Albuquerque hospital.

Bush had been headed to the airport after attending a fundraiser for Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.

"Any time there is a presidential motorcade, the officers, that's part of their job, they drive at a high rate of speed," said Hoffman, whose department is investigating the crash.
Rio Rancho police department spokesman Officer John Francis said Casey's motorcycle hit a curb and then a tree, but investigators were reconstructing the accident to determine exactly what happened.

Photographers and reporters in the presidential motorcade said the officer's motorcycle appeared to be nearly destroyed, and the officer was on the ground, being helped by an emergency medical technician.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the president saw the wreck after it had occurred, and a member of the White House medical staff went to assist.

Bush called Casey's wife, Lisa, from his limousine on the way to the airport in Seattle to offer condolences, Stanzel said.

The president issued a statement saying he was saddened by Casey's death and extraordinarily grateful for his protection.

"It is a high calling to choose to serve and protect your fellow citizens, and I will always be indebted to Officer Casey's service," the president said, adding that the officer's wife and two teenage children were in his thoughts and prayers.

The officer had been with the Rio Rancho Police Department since 2005 and worked with campus police at the University of New Mexico before that, Hoffman said.

Francis said Casey had received special training in riding in motorcades and had previously escorted Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on separate occasions.
A Honolulu police officer, Steve Favela, died in November when he and two other motorcycle officers crashed while part of a presidential motorcade traveling across Hickam Air Force Base.

[Jackalope]

Rio Rancho Police Department
New Mexico
End of Watch: Monday, August 27, 2007
Biographical Info

Age: 40
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
Date of Incident: Monday, August 27, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer Germaine Casey was injured in a motorcycle crash while he was part of President Bush's motorcade near I-25 at Sunport. The crash occurred where the road at the airport goes into an underground parking garage. After the crash he was taken to an Albuquerque hospital where he died from his injuries.

Officer Casey had been with the Rio Rancho police department since 2005 and had previously served with the University of New Mexico Campus Police. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Agency Contact Information

Rio Rancho Police Department
2810 Southern Blvd SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Phone: (505) 891-7227

[iso607]

Rest in peace brother.
Thoughts and prayers to the family.

[10-42Adam]

Damn, I can't believe this happened again. Rest in peace.

[countybear]

Rest easy, brother.

[Jenna]

Rest in peace.

[PCSD722]

Rest in Peace.

Prayers for family and friends

[Sapper_132]

RIP, damn thats close by to where I'm at right now. I just saw in on the news. terrible!

[BigDawg]

RIP my Brother


My thoughts and prayers are extended to your family, friends, and Dept.

[kjlaw]

RIP Brother.

[snuffy2202]

RIP. We are losing so many.

[Buttercup]

Rest in peace.

[mack]

RIP my brother, my thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends.

[CajunYardDawg]

Rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[Ianl6]

Rest In Peace

[gozling]

many thoughts to his family and those who knew him.

[mike01]

RIP

[Tuff]

Rest in Peace Brother...