by Xochitl Campos
Daily Lobo
The death of Rio Rancho Police Officer Germaine Casey was a loss for UNM Police officers.
"He was a wonderful guy," UNMPD Officer Eric Miller said. "We lost one of the good guys and not just the police department -- people in general."
Casey died Monday after crashing his motorcycle while riding in President Bush's motorcade to Albuquerque International Sunport.
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He was 40.
Casey joined UNMPD in May 2003. He transferred to the Rio Rancho Police Department in July 2005.
Casey, who started his career in law enforcement in his mid-30s, was enthusiastic about his job and loved riding his motorcycle, said Lt. Pat Davis, spokesman for UNM Police.
"He was a larger-than-life guy," Davis said. "Even starting off in his mid-30s, he was still excited, just like a brand-new 20-year-old
officer was."
Davis said Casey wanted to be a motorcycle officer soon after graduating from the police academy.
"Right out of training, he started hounding everybody," he said. "So, we sent him to motorcycle school, which is impressive for an officer with just a few years of experience."
Miller remembers how happy Casey was when he finished his motorcycle training.
"That is what he wanted to do," Miller said, "and whenever you'd see him, he'd be talking about the class and what they'd be having him do."
Casey was known for his friendliness, especially when working on campus, Davis said.
"Germaine didn't want people to think, 'Oh, look. There is Officer Casey. He is going to write me a ticket,'" he said. "He liked being able to just pull up next to someone on a motorcycle and just have a conversation with them."
Detective Robert Rush worked with Casey at UNMPD and was a close friend of his. Casey was one of a tight-knit group of officers who would get together for
softball games and poker nights, Rush said.
Davis said that after Casey left, he remained close to the friends he made at UNMPD.
"He loved motorcycles so much that when he went to Rio Rancho, he volunteered his time and came back and helped train two of our officers," he said.
Davis said that although Casey loved riding his motorcycle, he knew it was a risky job.
"Our officers know how dangerous it is, but it does make you stop and think about how something that can seem so routine can turn dangerous, no matter what they are doing," he said.
His fellow officers remember Casey as a friend who could always bring a smile to their faces,
Miller said.
"Sometimes you'd get assigned something you wouldn't be excited about, but if he was around, the time would just fly by around you," Miller said. "I can't believe he is gone. I've had other officers die, but you just never
believe it."
Casey leaves behind a wife and two children.
