CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 12, 2024 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) will deploy to Las Cruces, New Mexico, after a police officer was stabbed to death on Sunday, Feb. 11. Officer Jonah Hernandez was responding to a trespassing call when he encountered the suspect, who was shot and killed by a witness.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Las Cruces Police Department and the family and friends of Officer Jonah Hernandez,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “It’s always difficult to hear of the tragic loss of a law enforcement officer in the line of duty. Chaplains with our National Law Enforcement Ministry are trained for situations like this—to listen to, comfort, pray and share God’s love with those who have been affected by this tragedy.”
Four BG-RRT chaplains will arrive in Las Cruces, New Mexico, tomorrow, Feb. 13, to minister to the officers, their families, and the community.
BG-RRT chaplains are now providing emotional and spiritual support in three locations. Besides Las Cruces, New Mexico, chaplains are also ministering in Blount County, Tennessee, where a sheriff’s deputy was killed on Thursday, Feb. 8. In addition, chaplains are offering hope and providing emotional comfort and spiritual care to families who have been forced to flee their homes in war-torn Ukraine.
For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit the BG-RRT press kit or BillyGraham.org/RRT. Updates can also be found at Facebook.com/RRTChaplains.
Media Opportunities
Interviews with:
- Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT
- Chaplain coordinator in Las Cruces, New Mexico
B-Roll and photos (please use with credit to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team:
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 760 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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Media Contact:
Christine Batchelder
cbatchelder@bgea.org