Sgt. Manny Tapia Annual Highway Clean-Up

Sgt. Manny Tapia

“IN REMEMBRANCE OF OUR FALLEN COMRADE, SGT TAPIA”

Come and join us on January 11^th, 2014 to remember Sgt. Manny Tapia #1409.  We will first start with a burrito breakfast on Rio Rico Drive, be shuttled onto I-19 for the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup and from there we will meet at his Memorial Site on North Grand Avenue for a small service.  Afterwards, we will meet at the Tubac Peck Canyon Fire Station.  (You can attend all or any one of the three events; you do not have to participate in all three events.)

Schedule and Location directions:

0830 TO 0900 Hrs – Breakfast burritos and hot beverages to help start the Adopt-A-Highway clean-up.  We will be meeting at a dirt parking lot on the right side of Rio Rico Drive in Rio Rico. Get off on Exit 17 on I-19 and go East 1/8^th of a mile on Rio Rico Drive. (The Adopt-A-Highway clean-up will start here.)

0900 to 1100 Hrs – (The start time is 0900, but some of us are on Mexicano time. So don’t worry if your running a little late, just call CosmeJ) Sgt. Manny Tapia’s Adopt-A-Highway clean-up, is on I-19 between KM 17 and KM (a mile and a half stretch).  (A ride to I-19, bags, gloves, and water will be provided.)

1130 to 1230 Hrs –“Sgt. Manny Tapia’s Memorial service”, site is on the East side of North Grand Avenue (Business 19), next to the rail road tracks, between the Quality Inn (Americana Motel) and the Pizza Hut.  You can get off at Exit 8 and go south into Nogales or you can take I-19 all the way south into Nogales and then make a left hand turn onto North Grand Ave. and go North. (Not South, it will take you into Mexico.)

1300 Hrs – Lunch for “everyone”, at the Tubac Peck Canyon Fire Station, 1360 W. Frontage Road.  From the memorial site, you go North on I-19 to Exit 22, make a left onto the overpass, make a left onto the W. Frontage Rd., and it will be on your left.

“Sgt. Tapia was shot on Jan. 7^th, 1991, in Nogales by a drug suspect. He died on Jan. 8^th, 1991, at Tucson Medical Center. Sgt. Tapia was assisting a Nogales police officer with a traffic stop.  Upon asking the suspect to open the vehicle’s trunk, the suspect fled on foot with Sgt. Tapia in pursuit. The suspect then turned and shot Sgt. Tapia.  The suspect was fatally shot by the Nogales police officer.”

If you plan to attend please call, text, or email me, but if you forget don’t worry just show upJ That way we know how much food & beverages we need to provide. “Remember we will be on Nogales time.” Contact information:  Officer Cosme R. Ibarra #5555, #520-313-7116, cibarra@azdps.gov.

Hope to see you there, “Courteous Vigilance & Semper Fi.”