In Memoriam

Chief JR Grijalva
05 July 1950 - 31 January 2008

El Paso Community College Police Department

Former interim chief of the El Paso Police Department J.R. Grijalva passed away on January 31, 2008. His passing came at the end of a brief but overpowering battle with cancer. He died peacefully at his home in the company of Patty, his loving wife of 13 years. Also present were his sons, Robert and Chad; his sister Suzanne; his brother Bobby and friend Miriam, and Gunnar, his special German Shepherd dog. He was preceded in death by his sister, Felicia, parents Felix Grijalva, Sr., and Maria Paulina Provencio Grijalva, and brother, David Grijalva.

JR was a graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School. Shortly after, he voluntarily joined the United States Air Force from which he was granted an Honorable Discharge. Later, he attained an Associates degree in Criminal Justice from El Paso Community College in 2003. In July of 2005, he attained a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Phoenix. In the summer of 2007, he successfully completed the requirements to be awarded a Masters degree.

At the age of 20, J.R. made the decision that law enforcement was to be his lifelong passion. In May of 1974, he, along with a very special class of officers, completed the academy courses and was sworn in as a police officer. His graduation ceremony occurred just one day after the burial of our father, Felix. During the next 26 years, J.R. excelled as an officer and received promotions to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief and finally Interim Chief of the El Paso Police Department. His assignments in the police department started at patrolman and then to other divisions including traffic, the training academy, detectives, internal affairs and the airport. His file contains many exceptional performance evaluations and specific letters of commendation from former Mayor Jonathan Rogers, former Mayor Tom Westfall, former Mayor Carlos Ramirez, Sheriff Leo Samaniego, the New Mexico State Police, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. In 1980, the rank and file of the El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association elected him to their executive board as the Director. The City of El Paso lost a dedicated officer when he retired in October of 2000. J.R. was then appointed as Chief of Police for the El Paso Community College (EPCC) where, in the words of Dr. Richard Rhodes, he "changed the department from a mediocre security department to a first class Police Department."

Our family is deeply appreciative of the continued support by the EPCC Board of Trustees and Administration during this very difficult period. We would also like to thank Drs. Jesus Gomez and Max Peralta for their personal attentive care for J.R.; and especially Dr. Vipool Patel for his personal physician counseling to members of the family. J.R. is survived by his loving wife Patty Grijalva, in-laws Gary and Ann Marsh, sons Robert David Grijalva and Chad Conley, daughter LaJoi Hale, sisters Astrid Grijalva and Suzanne Gomez, and brother Robert Anthony Grijalva along with many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 6, at the Hillcrest Funeral Home, 5054 Doniphan Drive (587-0202) commencing at 7:00 PM. A military internment service will be observed on Thursday, February 7, at the Fort Bliss Cemetery commencing at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in J.R.'s behalf be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
 

obtained from El Paso Times Online website