Deputy with cancer gets helping hand

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department is helping out a deputy diagnosed with cancer.

Deputies are sporting yellow bands on their wrists that say "SOS Daphne Garcia" because this is considered an emergency for Deputy Garcia. She was diagnosed with stage-4 melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, in November.

Doctors also discovered it was spreading to her bones and her liver.

Garcia has been in and out of UNM hospital since then, undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Her extended family at the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department has stood by her side the entire time.

"Every morning, she and I send a text message and she says 'Good morning, Sunshine' and I say 'Good morning, are you ready for another day of battle?'," said Lieutenant Andi Taylor. Taylor has known Deputy Garcia for 10 year. Garcia has been with BCSO for 20 years.

Taylor and other officers have raised $5,000 in just a week, selling the yellow bracelets.

"Our whole campaign is S-O-S, Save Our Sister," said Taylor.

BCSO is giving them out for a $5 contribution. All of the money goes to a fund to pay for Daphne's medical expenses.

They're also sending a message with the kiss marks on the bands.

"To know Daphne, is to know that she loves her lipstick and we are also saying 'Let's kiss cancer goodbye'," said Taylor.

"It broke my heart when I found out what she was fixing to go through," said Sergeant Larry Harlan. Harlan is Garcia's Sergeant and he is also sporting a bracelet. He wants to see Deputy Garcia out of the hospital and back on the streets, doing what she loves.

"She's always there to help everybody out on the street, whether it's a report call or helping chase bad guys or whatever the case is," said Harlan.

The bands can be picked up at BCSO's main station or any substation. To get one, you'll need to leave a minimum $5 contribution to Daphne's fund.

Deputies are also doing a one-mile fund-raising walk at Albuquerque Academy in honor of Deputy Daphne Garcia. They are encouraging everyone to come out for the walk at 7 a.m. on January 28th.