EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — Law enforcement agencies from throughout New Mexico are helping escort fallen Las Cruces Police Department Officer Jonah Hernandez from the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office in Albuquerque to his hometown of El Paso.
The police escort began at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, on Camino de Salud on the University of New Mexico Hospital campus. Las Cruces police will lead the escort, but law enforcement agencies from across New Mexico and El Paso are expected to take part, according to a news release sent out by Las Cruces Police.
Hernandez was killed in the line of duty on Sunday, Feb. 11 when he was stabbed while responding to a trespassing incident.
Las Cruces Police officer stabbed, killed in line of duty
The escort will enter Interstate 25 in Albuquerque and head south. The police escort is anticipated to pass through Las Cruces between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
The escort will transition from I-25 south to I-10 east on its way to El Paso. The destination will be a funeral facility in El Paso where they expect to arrive about 10:45 p.m.
Funeral services have yet to be announced.
Mourners who wish to view the escort are asked to use extreme caution and avoid parking or standing on highway lanes. Observers are also asked to refrain from parking, or blocking traffic, on any bridges along the route.