April 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 4

GUEST COMENTARY police

GUEST COMENTARY police law news Daniel Carr This Month in Policing NMSP Officer Justin Hare, an interstate tragedy. As many of you know - New Mexico is my home state and I recently retired from the Albuquerque Police Department. This tragedy occurred approximately three hours east of Albuquerque on Interstate I-40. And ended this morning on the far West-side of Albuquerque. Every police officer that is murdered in the line of duty is a tragedy. But, it sadly happens so often that the news stories of cops being murdered thousands of miles away can blur together - stories stacked like a pile of books that are waiting to be read. I think it hits a little harder for all of us the closer to home this happens. NMSP OFFICER JUSTIN HARE WHAT HAPPENED On March 15, 2024 at approximately 0540 hrs a New Mexico State Police Officer (NMSP) named Justin Hare was murdered in the line of duty. According to the NMSP Chief, Officer Hare responded to a call where someone requested assistance for a flat tire on the side of the highway. Officer Hare responded and observed a white BMW stopped on the shoulder. A man named Jaremy Smith emerged from the driver’s seat, approached the 12 The Blues - April ‘24 front passenger window of the police vehicle, and made contact with Officer Hare. Officer Hare offered Mr. Smith assistance with his tire and asked if he needed a ride into town. That was the last conversation that Justin Hare would ever have. Without warning and in cold blood Mr. Smith produced a firearm and shot Officer Hare - as he sat in his police car. Ambushed. The coward then walked to the driver’s side of the vehicle and shot Officer Hare again. Mr. Smith then pushed Officer Hare into the passenger side of the vehicle and got into the drivers seat and fled the scene in the police vehicle. At some point Mr. Smith pushed Officer Hare out of the vehicle and onto the side of the frontage road - to die alone on the cold pavement. The “alert” tone went off from Officer Hare’s radio and another NMSP officer was dispatched to assist. Officer Hare was located, laying alone on the frontage road and the NMSP officer and a Quay County deputy rendered aid, called for rescue, and spent the last moments of life with Officer Hare. Officer Hare was transported to the hospital - where he died. There was a massive manhunt for Mr. Smith this night and he was able to successfully evade law enforcement. YOU NEVER KNOW The thing about police work is that you never know who you are dealing with. Officer Hare was just trying to help someone who was having car trouble. Likely a call that most cops would view as no big deal. There would be no way for any officer to predict this outcome. The investigation into this case revealed several things: Mr. Smith is from Marion, South Carolina but had ties to Albuquerque, NM. The vehicle that Mr. Smith had been driving was registered to Phonesia Machado-Fore - a medic in SC - that had been found dead on March 14, 2024. Mr. Smith has a lengthy and violent criminal history.

The Blues - April ‘24 13