ROCKY FORD – Wednesday, the Lower Arkansas Valley said goodbye to a native son who spent more than 40 years protecting the community.
Bent County Undersheriff Frank Gallegos was laid to rest Wednesday in his hometown of Rocky Ford.
Gallegos fell ill and died unexpectedly on Christmas Eve. Wednesday, law enforcement from across the state and even New Mexico came to pay their respects.
Gallegos was just two weeks away from retirement when he passed. He spent the last three and a half years as Undersheriff in Bent County, but prior to that, spent decades with Rocky Ford Police, including a stint as Chief.
“It just kind of breaks my heart,” said Sheriff David Encinias. “He was a really good friend of mine. We worked together for man years and we would console in each other, so I’ll miss him because he was a good man.”
Aside from three tours in Vietnam, Gallegos spent his entire life in the Lower Arkansas Valley. He was 68.
