A Police Officer Died Today

SOMEBODY KILLED A POLICEMAN TODAY

AND A PART OF AMERICA DIED.

A PIECE OF OUR COUNTRY THAT HE SWORE TO PROTECT

WILL BE BURIED WITH HIM AT HIS SIDE.

THE SUSPECT WHO SHOT HIM WILL STAND UP IN COURT

WITH COUNSEL DEMANDING HIS RIGHTS;

WHILE A YOUNG WIDOWED MOTHER MUST WORK FOR HER KIDS

AND SPEND MANY LONG, LONELY NIGHTS.

THE BEAT THAT HE WALKED WAS A BATTLEFIELD, TOO

JUST AS IF HE HAD GONE OFF TO WAR.

THOUGH THE FLAG OF OUR NATION WON'T FLY AT HALF MAST,

TO HIS NAME THEY WILL ADD A GOLD STAR.

SOMEBODY KILLED A POLICEMAN TODAY,

MAYBE IN YOUR TOWN OR MINE.

WHILE WE SLEPT IN COMFORT BEHIND OUR LOCKED DOORS,

A COP PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE.

NOW HIS GHOST WALKS THE BEAT ON DARK CITY STREETS.

AND HE STANDS AT EACH NEW ROOKIE'S SIDE.

HE ANSWERED THE CALL... OF HIMSELF GAVE HIS ALL,

AND A PART OF AMERICA DIED.

WRITTEN BY HARRY KOCH

*ON MAY 8, 2003, A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE IN ALBUQUERQUE DETERMINED THERE WAS CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE TO CONVICT ZACHARIA CRAIG, 21, OF THE FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF OFFICER LLOYD ARAGON.

THE JUDGE ALSO DECLARED THAT CRAIG WAS MENTALLY INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, AND WAS DANGEROUS. CRAIG WAS REMANDED TO THE STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL IN LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO FOR THE REST OF HIS NATURAL LIFE; OR UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT CRAIG WAS FOUND COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.

UPDATE 2-7-2006

Yesterday, February 6th, Zacharia Craig pled guilty, but mentally ill, to second degree murder. He also pled guilty to two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a stolen vehicle, and shoplifting over $250.00. Craig faces a minimum of 25 years in prison. He faced the death penalty before the plea agreement. He never requested a jury trial during the last five and one-half years.

UPDATE 9-10-06

ZACHARIA CRAIG WAS SENTENCED TO TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN PRISON. FIVE YEARS WAS SUSPENDED FOR TIME SERVED IN A FACILITY.

Lloyd Aragon was honored as New Mexico's most valued and respected police officer. The State Police Division of Gallup, New Mexico name their new headquarters as the Lloyd Aragon State Police Headquarters. State Highway 117 from the City of Grants, New Mexico to Interstate I-40 was renamed The Lloyd Aragon Highway.

Officer Aragon was killed instantly when the stolen pickup driven by Zacharia Craig was directed at Officer Aragon as the officer ran toward his police unit. The pickup struck the officer and sideswiped the patrol car.

A Highway Memorial is located in the median where Officer Lloyd Aragon was killed. Interstate 40, 126mm.