Harker Heights, TX- On Tuesday, October 17, 2009, the Organization 40 & 8 honored a Sheriff's Deputy as the Law Enforcement Officer of the year for 2009. Deputy Armando Alvarez, a 17 year veteran with the Sheriff's office was the recipient of the prestigious award.
The 40 and 8 is La Societe des Quarante Hommes at Huit Chevaux is an independent, by invitation, honor organization of male and female U.S. veterans, more commonly known as the Forty & Eight.
PHOTOS COURTESY EPCSO
Click here to view Official Forty & Eight Websites
The Forty & Eight is committed to charitable and patriotic aims. It's purpose is to uphold and defend the United States Constitution, to promote the well being of veterans and their widows and orphans, and to actively participate in selected charitable endeavors, which include programs that promote child welfare and nurse's training.
The titles and symbols of the Forty & Eight reflect its First World War origins. Americans were transported to the battle front on French trains within boxcars stenciled with a “40/8”, denoting its capacity to hold either forty men or eight horses. This uncomfortable mode of transportation was familiar to all who fought in the trenches; a common small misery among American soldiers who thereafter found “40/8” a lighthearted symbol of the deeper service, sacrifice and unspoken horrors of war that bind all who have borne the battle.
The Forty & Eight was founded in 1920 by American veterans returning from France. Originally an arm of The American Legion, the Forty & Eight became an independent and separately incorporated veteran's organization in 1960. Membership is by invitation of honorably discharged veterans and honorably serving members of the United States Armed Forces.
DEPUTY ARMANDO ALVAREZ
Deputy Armando Alvarez joined the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer in 1992. Five years later he fulfilled his lifelong dream and became a patrol deputy in April of 1997. Throughout his law enforcement career, Deputy Alvarez has accumulated numerous accolades as a proud member of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue Team. Although he is very dedicated to his profession, his most noteworthy achievements come from all the time and energy he dedicates to the community. For years, Deputy Alvarez has participated in various charity campaigns to raise money for disabled children. In addition to participating in charity events, Deputy Alvarez also enjoys doing presentations at local schools. During the Thanksgiving holidays, he has also helped our agency provide donated turkeys to less fortunate families within the community so they could enjoy a Thanksgiving meal they otherwise couldn’t afford.
RECENT NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
On February 11th, 2008, Deputy Alvarez assisted other officers who were looking for a subject involved in an Aggravated Robbery which occurred an hour earlier at an Exxon Station at 12040 Socorro Rd., in Socorro, TX. Utilizing his “tracking” expertise, Deputy Alvarez was able to successfully track the suspect who was hiding in a nearby field. Following this arrest, further investigation linked the suspect to several other recent robberies which investigators were able to clear as a result of the apprehension.
On April 20th, 2008, other deputies investigating a family violence requested Deputy Alvarez’s assistance to help locate the suspect who had fled the scene at 500 Talbot, Canutillo, TX. Due to Deputy Alvarez’s valuable assistance, the suspect was successfully tracked and arrested where he was found hiding under brush.
On November 12th, 2008, Deputy Alvarez again assisted other deputies track a subject who had eluded officers in a vehicle pursuit several hours earlier. Utilizing his tracking expertise, Deputy Alvarez was able to successfully track and arrest the suspect who was found hiding in a nearby cotton field.
As a member of our Search & Rescue Team, Deputy Alvarez also participated in several critical rescues throughout the year. He responded to a motor vehicle 
accident rescue at the Franklin State Park, an injured hiker rescue effort at the Hueco Tanks State Park, and a missing person call that involved locating human remains in various desert & mountain areas throughout El Paso County. In addition to participating in actual rescue calls, Deputy Alvarez has also provided various formal training and instruction to the Ft. Bliss Military Police Search & Rescue Team at the Region VIII Training Academy. He has also provided presentations on Search & Rescue to students at Hueco Elementary SISD and Mountain View High School CISD.
Services & Charity Events which Deputy Alvarez participated in within the past year…
- “Sgt. Ruben Orozco 8K Torch Run” Fund Raiser……..…March 9th, 2008
- “Bataan Death March” Fund Raiser………………….…..March 30th, 2008
- “Cops on Top” Fund Raiser………………………...…….May 9th & 10th, 2008
- “Special Olympics Torch Run” Fund Raiser….………….May 18th – 23rd, 2008.
- “Tip a Cop” Fund Raiser…………………………………July 24th, 2008
- Thanksgiving Turkey Donations…………………………Nov. 22nd, 2008
- “McDonalds Cop Night” Fund Raiser…………..………..Dec. 18th, 2008
It is worth noting that not only did Deputy Alvarez participate in the pre-described charity events last year, but he has also been actively involved in the events year after year that occur on an annual basis, such as: The Special Olympics Torch Run and The Sgt. Ruben Orozco 8K Torch Run. Let it be noted that he also became an official Committee Member of the Special Olympics Torch Run on March 9th, 2008. On December 5th, 2008, Deputy Alvarez received formal recognition and was presented awards from the El Paso Sheriff’s Officers’ Association for his valuable contributions and “civic duty” with the Bataan Death March & the Special Olympics. Deputy Alvarez not only has an impressive resume of commendable job-related achievements, but his most impressive credentials come from his involvement and dedication to serving the community through numerous charity events. He takes tremendous pride as an active participant and believes it is his “noble duty” to go beyond the call of duty to help the less fortunate! Although Deputy Alvarez never seeks praise for all his hard work, he finally deserves formal credit for all the sacrifices he continues to make year after year.
Letter of recommendation submitted by Deputy Sgt. Lewis Roe
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.