Jose Salazar Sr. was the first recognized member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to ever become a Phoenix Police officer, and the first recognized Pascua Yaqui tribal member to work in Police Communications. He appeard in the eighty's at the Arizona State fair and in anti Crime commercials as Officer MaGruff the Crime fighting Dog. He also served in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman assigned to support the US Navy, USMC FLEET MARINE Support, to the US Army,US Air force and the Fighting SeaBees for over twenty Years of Service. While working at the Phoenix Police Dept. He was living on the Land of the Nine tribes Gila River Indian Reservation Community with his family. He was the first recognized Pascua Yaqui tribal member in decades to ever be allowed to live there and had he joined the community fully when asked by the tribes there, it would have had to change to the land of the ten tribes. His honor and dedication to his people would not allow him accept the monies and benefits offered in exchange for losing membership in his own Native tribe of the Pascua Yaquis.
Sadly Jose and all other Native American Phoenix Police Officers are not recognized at the newly constructed downtown Phoenix Police Museum. They have recognized the first Police Officers (non native), The fist female Police motor officer (non native) and Even the first Police Dog. It Seems even though they seem to embrace diversity. No Native Americans are not recognized for their contributions in the Phoenix Police Dept. except in the case of the wall of the fallen Possibly. I urge every one to call the Phoenix Police Dept. and ask them same question Why?
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