And when he retired from the force on Oct. 14, the Bureau of Indian Affairs recognized the respected tribal cop by officially retiring his badge, a first for the agency.
“He treated the community with respect and empathy and was a leader that the agency needed,” said Clinton Funk, Ute Mountain police chief, during a ceremony at the Chief Ignacio Justice Center in Towaoc.
The towering American Horse, an Oglala Sioux, was a face of public safety from Towaoc to White Mesa, and positively influenced many tribal members over the years.
“He was like a father figure to me during my younger, wilder years,” said a one woman who spoke at the retirement ceremony. “He’s been an inspiration, and if not for him I probably would not be standing here. Thank you.”
Over the years, there have been countless calls to service, some life-threatening, some routine, some heroic. Like the time he pulled a driver from a burning car after a violent crash.
“Every day, I came home take off this badge and polish it, grateful to make it through another shift,” he said. “I learned that people make mistakes, but they grow up and learn from their mistakes.”
He was peacemaker, and a “sheep dog that kept the wolves at bay,” Funk said. “He has seen the ups and downs, the good and bad. He stood higher than everyone else, literally and figuratively, and kept this community safe. For that we are eternally grateful.”
American Horse thanked his fellow officers and said it was a tough and satisfying job.
“Sometimes it felt like you’re in a boxing ring with the 10 best boxers,” he said. “Coming off a tough call, the coffee was always on at headquarters. Once you came home and lay down, you’d get called out again. You have to learn to protect yourself and the community.”
He said the key to his success was to have compassion for the job and people.
“The people come first,” he said.
In the tradition of retiring police officers, he called in his final watch in front of fellow officers, friends and family.
“10-7 end watch,” responded the dispatcher. “Job well done, take care.”
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
