The Officer Down Memorial Page
http://www.odmp.org/officer/19997-sergeant-joe-harris

News Articles
http://www.observer-online.com/articles/2009/07/23/news/doc4a610c02ca659775642889.txt
http://www.observer-online.com/articles/2009/07/23/news/doc4a610c633b970576741067.txt

News Videos
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crime_krqe_albuquerque_cookie_bandit_shot_to_death_200907221416
http://www.krqe.com/generic/news/crime/topics_news_crime_sandoval_county_deputy_slain_200907
http://www.koat.com/search/form.html?qt=%22joe%20harris%22&p=2&video=on&stories=on

Bio:
Joseph "Joe" Anthony Harris, Sr. was born in South Ozone Park, Brooklyn, New York to Arthur and Helen Harris. He grew up on Long Island with his big Italian family. In the late 1970s, he moved to New Mexico with his parents and finished school at Cibola High School. He worked at Spartan for a couple of years in Rio Rancho until he decided he wanted to be a either Marine or a Police Officer. He applied to both the Marines and the Albuquerque Police Department and decided that whoever called him first world be the one he went with; so, he became an APD officer. He started with Rio Rancho Police soon after, in 1984, and was one of the first dozen or so original Rio Rancho police officers. He immediately decided that community relations were his calling. He started the D.A.R.E. program here and continued to run the G.R.E.A.T. program, Neighborhood Watch, McGruff the Crime Dog, the Citizen Police Academy and any other program he could bring to the department that had to do with community safety. He was also a patrol officer, cross-trained in fire fighting and EMT. He served for 20 years with the Rio Rancho Police and retired in 2004. He had to wait a mandatory 90 days before he could start with law enforcement. On day 91, he was sworn in as a deputy with Sandoval County. He immediately began turning that department into a more community-minded one as well. He met Theresa Moriatry 4 years ago. When he found out she was a retired New York police officer, he recruited her to be his partner. They soon realized that Joe and Theresa were "brother and sister separated at birth", and anyone who knew the two of them, especially together, could attest to their closeness and similarities. Joe was a great Christian man; he attended Rio Rancho Calvary Church. He loved God, and if you listened when he drove by you, you would hear the Christian radio station blasting out of his police unit and him singing along. If you ever ate a meal with him, you could be assured there would be a prayer, a long one. He was also the owner of Elite Personal Protection, where he was a bodyguard for celebrities, and taught concealed carry classes. He loved teaching others how to live and stay safe. He was always generous with his money, time, and love. Joe was the quintessential father to his children. He loved them fiercely, and took his role in raising them very seriously, He never went anywhere without his sons, Joe Jr. and David. As they grew older in this community, they learned the way of their father. They soon found out everyone knew Joe Harris. In 1999 his joy, Allyson, was born. If there was ever a father in love with his daughter, this was it. She was his eternal joy; from playing Barbies together, to having their infamous "daddy date days", to making sure he snuggled her to sleep every single night. Joe and Tonia met in 1993. Their first date was Joe picking her up from work and taking her to the downtown court to talk to his judge friend to "fix" her ticket. That was it; he impressed her and the rest is history. They married in 1994 and had just celebrated their 15th anniversary this May. Joe always said that no one thought they would make it. Nevertheless, they did. Joe was the most dedicated police officer Rio Rancho ever knew. When people asked him why he kept doing it, he just replied, "I'm not done yet." You could easily spot Joe around Sandoval County, in his 9-11 commemorative sheriff's department vehicle that he designed, or eating at his many friends' restaurants, going into schools with his K-9 partner, Harley, riding on his motorcycle, working out at the gym, driving around in his big truck, or chilling at home with Tonia and Ally in the paradise of a backyard he designed. Joe died a hero, doing exactly what he wanted to be doing. No one will want to replace him, nor can they. He left big shoes, to fill, and they will always remain empty. Joe is survived by his wife, Tonia Harris; children, Allyson McKenna Harris, David Joseph Harris. all of Rio Rancho, Joseph Anthony Harris, Jr. of Everett, WA, Charis Morse of San Antonio, TX, and Jocelyn Harris of Rio Rancho; grandchildren, Jordan and Christian; aunt, Louise LoGuercio; Harley Harris ( his police dog); and numerous other family and friends in New Mexcio, New York, and Florida.