Fallen officer remembered by thousands

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Monday was an emotional day for law enforcement officers across the state as they remembered one of their own—State Police Sgt. Andy Tingwall.

Tingwall died while piloting a rescue mission to recover a lost hiker. The helicopter crashed, and he died a few hours later.

On Monday friends, family and the law enforcement community showed their respect at a memorial service in Santa Fe.

Thousands of people filled the state police hanger at the Santa Fe Airport to remember their friend and their hero.

A row of police shut traffic down on parts of Interstate 25 and led the precession.

Police from Arizona, Texas and Colorado showed up to pay their respects.

"We truly are a brotherhood. Law enforcement agencies not only across the state of New Mexico but the country come together. We band together and we will get through the next weeks and months to come as an organization," State Police Chief Faron Segotta said.

One of Sergeant Tingwall's daughters spoke to the crowd, saying she loves and misses her father very much.

When it was Segotta's turn to address the mourners, he made a point to tell Sgt. Tingwall's little girls just how great a man their dad was.

"Andy gave everything. He gave his life for what he was doing. I don't know how Webster defines a hero but if that's not it I guess I need to look somewhere else for that definition," Segotta said.

Guests lined up outside for a final goodbye—a flyover for the sergeant, who Gov. Bill Richardson said, loved the sky.

Segotta said having Officer Wesley Cox at the memorial helped raise spirits during a very sad day for State Police. Cox is the only survivor from last week's crash.

"That starts the healing process for a lot of our officers to see Wes to know that he is going to be ok. He has a long road ahead but we will band together to be there to help him through each and everyday of that as well," Segotta said.

The Office of the Medical Investigator said Tingwall died from exposure to the cold, along with multiple blunt force injuries from the crash.

Megumi Yamamoto was the hiker Tingwall and Cox rescued before the crash. She died in the accident.

Her family presented a wreath to Sgt. Tingwall's family at Monday's ceremony.