Navajo times., 1962-08-15
Navajo Police .....
One Of the Biggest Jobs Going!

OSSO ~ GSSC DSSSCOG 0OUS OOGNSs
Anyone who had occasion, as most of us did, to
try to drive through Gallup during the past weekend
probably had occasion to be little frustrated
the traffic situation Did you stop to think about
the there would be without the efforts of the var
Ous law enforcement agencies And if you think it's
rough sitting in your waiting for the nice to
signal your through the intersection friend. you
should get out there and try to direct the cars!!
The cars only part of the problem. There are
many, tourists in the town during Ceremonals,
and they, of course. unfamiliar with the town Even
in little town like Gallup you get turned around
and miss the street you're looking for
to change lanes too fast, turns the wrong way
one-way street, and boom!!
Police questions ("Officer, where can you
buy those funny long mocassins' that the majorettes
were wearing?0 give directions. keep the overly
thusiastic celebrant who has had nip too much from
bringing ha to himself and others, and generally
that the peace and relative quiet is maintained
Holidays extra headaches for the police force,
and long, ha rd working hours. The pay is not
whelming by any standards, the work is demanding,
the hours are cratic
There those who take advantage of their author
iy, and the petty type of who delight in making
people squirm. But these do not last long. By and
large, we have hard working sincere and dedicated
group of working to protect and help the people,
We feel that The Navajo Police are particularly
fine group, and they and their leader Pat Nelson de-
the highest of praise for their response any
and all situations in capable and efficient
These men have the largest single police area
in the entire nited States, and perhaps the world
and although Chief Nelson indicates that he
really quite satisfied they do a remarkable job Their
total budget runs into pretty impressive figure until
you start breaking it down into the various compOnens
and seeing just how far it must stretch the
vast region that is NavajOland.
Pat Nelson is working Chief of Police--an attempt
to reach him during the early days ceremonial last
weekfor few specific statistics brought luck This
of those extra duty times, and every available
man and several who put especially for the
occasion putting in full time with the top brass
trying to be everywhere at keep things running
smoothly
Our Navajo police are well picked, well trained and
well disciplined. young man who is accepted for
service with the Navajo police his uniform
with pride, knowing that he is making his part of the
country safer and better place
The next time of those men, any law
forcement officer you straight when you really
wanted make left turn, stop to think of the generally
handess job they havewould you like to be standing
in the trying to cope with hundr eds of all
going different directions at once? Maybe you get
ticket for speedinghat polite young man who annoys
you SO at the moment may very well be saving yo
life or the lives of others.
The Navajo Police, like any law enforcement unit,
is dedicated to service of the people, and remember
the first people you call for when you get into
trouble you can't handle!