Fundraiser to help officer training

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The James McGrane Officer Survival Training Seminar that is held annually is going into it's seventh year training officers in New Mexico.  The reason it's able to be put on is through the fund raising efforts of James and Rita McGrane.  They are the parents of slain Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputy James McGrane, Jr. who was killed in the line of duty in March 2006.

The fundraising dinner itself is considered to be a small price to pay for something that provides so much.

"To save lives, that's why we do it," says James McGrane Sr. "We get so much positive feedback from officers that we meet on the street."

The total cost to put on the survival training seminar each year comes out to about $35,000. The McGrane's started gathering funds for the program not only to honor their son's life and sacrifice, but to keep other families from living the same nightmare.

"We haven't had an officer involved shooting where an officer is injured or killed in a routine traffic stop since 2006. and stop and think about that, our son was the last one and that's why we have to continue the training," adds McGrane.

The fundraiser itself not only provides money for the program, but incentives for the public who come out and give their support.

"We've got a tremendous amount of items for a silent auction. We've got great items for a raffle," says McGrane.

Friday's event will be held at the Elks Lodge at 2430 Centre in Southeast Albuquerque from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Admission for adults is a $15 donation, $7.50 for kids 6-12, children 5 and under get in free.