Rio Arriba County’s Top Law Enforcement Official Was Laid to Rest Thursday in Chimayó
The mood was somber and the Edward Medina Gymnasium unusually quiet as people filed in on April 29, to pay their respects to Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield.
Hundreds of family members, friends and colleagues filled the bleachers for his memorial service. Floral arrangements stood behind chairs that were set up for those who were scheduled to deliver remarks during the memorial and his flag-draped casket sat in front of them, flanked by two large photos of the sheriff in which he smiled broadly.
Deputies with the Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Office occupied the right side of the gym floor, while others from various law enforcement, forest and fire agencies sat behind them. The Lea County Sheriff’s Office presented the colors and newly-appointed RASO Sheriff Lorenzo Aguilar delivered the welcoming comments, followed by an opening prayer by chaplains Jill and Alvin Mondragon. RASO Lt. Jack Casias served as master of ceremonies, sharing a couple of stories about Merrifield and attesting to what type of leader he was.
Casias said Merrifield described the deputies as puzzle pieces that all had to fit together.
“If you didn’t fit, he’d make you fit,” he said.
He also described the late sheriff as a friend, a brother and someone who was always willing to help, but also as someone who was strong-willed and didn’t easily change his mind.
“No one could tell him what to do,” Casias said. “Except for the undersheriff.”
He said Merrifield and Undersheriff Monica Salazar never argued, except when it came to who’s baseball team was better and whether Costco or Sam’s Club was better.
It was Costco for the sheriff, Casias said with a chuckle.
That was the consensus amongst those delivering remarks, as they described Merrifield: a true leader who wanted to do what was best for the people of Rio Arriba County and would do his best to help anyone in need.
First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack Altwies said she and Merrifield worked together to rebuild trust between the sheriff’s office and her office. While working to achieve that, she said they became friends and would call each other to talk about business or just to vent.
Former Española Mayor Javier Sanchez also described Merrifield as a leader committed to the betterment of the county. Rio Arriba Magistrate Judge Joseph Madrid recalled a visit from Merrifield shortly after he was appointed sheriff in 2022, during which he asked him for advice for his upcoming campaign.
Madrid said he advised him to just be there for the people and not ask for their votes, but rather, help them in anyway he could.
It was advice that Merrifield seemed to take to heart once he was elected as sheriff. One example was his wood distribution program last winter, in which he and some of his deputies chopped and delivered wood to Rio Arribans in need.
Merrifield’s close friend Dale Salazar talked about the sheriff and how their families often spent time together. He, too, recounted what type of person Merrifield was and how he was always willing to help and could be counted on.
The memorial ended with a moment of silence, followed by a closing prayer by the Mondragons.
A rosary and mass were held on Thursday at the Holy Family Church in Chimayó, followed by burial at the Nuestra Señora de Dolores Cemetery in Chimayó.
Merrifield held several different positions during his career, to include a senior treatment supervisor, detention program director, compliance officer and a delivery route driver. He first began working at the Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office in March 2008. He left in April 2009 and had several different jobs before returning to the sheriff’s office in 2014, where he climbed the ranks before being appointed as sheriff in 2021, following former sheriff James Lujan’s resignation amid his conviction on two felony counts. Voters chose Merrifield to be the sheriff a year later in 2022, when he ran for the seat during the general election. He beat five other Democratic candidates.