School bench dedicated to fallen officer

Tucumcari Middle School during an assembly last Wednesday dedicated a bench in memory of slain New Mexico State Police patrolman Justin Hare.

Hare died after being shot on March 15 west of Tucumcari when he stopped to help a motorist with a flat tire. The suspect, also charged with the killing of a paramedic in South Carolina, remains in custody on state and federal charges.

Middle-school students and members of NMSP District 9 collaborated on the event. Many of Hare's co-workers also attended.

Seventh-grade language-arts teacher Tracy Chavez said Hare, who lived in Logan, spent hours walking the school's hallways and classrooms as part of the agency's outreach, "committed to making this school better."

"Officer Hare was passionate about being here to ensure a safe learning environment for every student, faculty and staff," she read from a prepared statement. "Though some might have been on the receiving end of making-better-choices conversation, he wanted what was best for each of you."

Chavez said Hare recently had begun a graveyard shift when the school's second semester began in early January.

"... Though he had been up for 24 hours, he stopped by to let us know he had not forgotten about us and that he was still her for the school, no matter what."

The Officer Hare Memorial Bench will be placed near the middle school's office. A wooden plaque on the bench reads, "In Loving Memory of Officer Justin Hare," with the New Mexico State Police logo and an "end of watch" date of March 15, 2024.

Hare's girlfriend, Daizzare Quintana, attended the ceremony. She was presented a memorial quilt traditionally given to the survivors of fallen NMSP officers, plus a family photo of her, Hare and their two children.