QUAY COUNTY News:

TUCUMCARI — The Quay County Commission on Monday agreed to partner with a New Mexico non-profit to establish the New Mexico State Police Museum and Memorial to be located in Tucumcari. 

“Quay County is excited about being part of an effort to honor our state heroes,” Daniel Zamora, Quay County Manager said. 

The Museum is the culmination of the longtime goal of Stephen and Beverly Whittington of Clovis. Stephen, a retired State Police Officer and Beverly, a former State Police employee, met while both worked at the state police headquarters in Clovis. 

Stephen grew up in Tucumcari and owns property on Route 66 that he and Beverly plan to donate to build the museum. 

“We have talked about this for years, but after State Police Officer Justin Hare lost his life last year outside of Tucumcari, we decided it was time to honor the history of the New Mexico State Police and those officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice,” Stephen Whittington said. 

The Museum will tell the story of the State Police since statehood and display old state police vehicles, weapons and other historical equipment. Since 1935, 33 state police officers have been killed in the line of duty. A special section of the museum will honor each of those fallen officers. 

The Whittingtons have incorporated “The New Mexico State Police Museum” as a New Mexico nonprofit corporation and it is registered as a 501(c)(3) which will allow donations to be tax deductible. Quay County has placed the museum on its ICIP list that will allow the two entities to pursue state funding for the project.