Pueblo community honors 'Colorado hero' Guerin Sandoval, who was killed serving warrant

The sound of "Amazing Grace" played by bagpipes and drums filled the Praise Assembly of God on Troy Avenue Monday as family, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers said goodbye to Christine Guerin Sandoval, a Pueblo native killed while attempting to serve a warrant on Sept. 28.

Guerin Sandoval served for 12 years as a Pueblo County Sheriff's Office deputy before serving the last five as a parole officer for the Colorado Department of Corrections.

On Sept. 28, Guerin Sandoval was killed while attempting to serve a felony warrant in Colorado Springs.

'Heart of gold': Guerin Sandoval's sister remembers her as loving sister, wife, and mother

During the funeral service, Guerin Sandoval's sister, Stacy Guerin, said Christine was a loving, caring person who loved her even when she couldn't love herself.

"She loved me unconditionally for the last 25 years," Guerin said.

"She was a loving sister, a wonderful wife, a mother, a daughter — she had a heart of gold."

Guerin remembered their daily talks and said she would miss her big sister dearly.

"She always made sure her kids were OK, and that I was OK," she said.

Guerin expressed that she "couldn't believe" that her sister was gone. "You took a piece of my heart with me," she said.

Friend recalls Guerin Sandoval as 'the ultimate mama bear'

Dassity Miller, a friend of Guerin Sandoval's from the PCSO, remembered her as a kind, loyal, strong woman, with a "gorgeous smile that would lighten a dark room."

Guerin Sandoval was a loving sister to her three younger siblings, whom she protected fiercely, Miller said. She was married for 33 years to Rodney Sandoval, whom she met in high school.

"She was a Centennial Bulldog and he was a Central Wildcat and not even the forces of nature could keep them apart," Miller said.

"Rod once said to Christine, 'God knew what he was doing when he gave me you. Thank you for loving me and standing by me all these years, I love you infinity times infinity,'" Miller said.

Miller also recounted the love Guerin Sandoval had for her two children, Rodney Jr. and Rihanna, whom Guerin Sandoval described as her "ultimate blessings and the best part of who she was."

"She was the ultimate mama bear and protector of her babies, no matter how old they got. She loved them more than life itself, and she would move mountains for them."

Along with being a caring, loving family member and a good friend, Miller described Guerin Sandoval as a respected law enforcement officer who went above and beyond the call of duty. "In the jail, inmates respected her and people she arrested would thank her," Miller said.

"She responded once to a suicidal person, which is a scary situation to begin with, but Christine stepped up, took charge, and listened to this person ... she made them feel worthy and she ultimately saved this person's life by preventing them from taking her own."

She continued to follow up with that person on her own time, and made sure that person knew their life meant something, Miller said.

A 'badass' with a 'heartwarming laugh'

Danielle Martinez, Guerin Sandoval's partner in her parole position, said they became instant friends when they began working as partners. Martinez remembered Guerin Sandoval's "heartwarming laugh" and said he had "the biggest smile."

"You were the best partner, I couldn't have asked for better," she said. "You were a badass, out tackling fugitives when you first started working for parole.

"You were always willing to help anyone, and that's what you were doing the day you became an angel."

Guerin Sandoval also made many connections inside and outside of the parole department, Martinez said. "From the polygraphers to the treatment providers to taskforce officers and probation, there wasn't a single agency or person who didn't reach out at losing you."

Undersheriff highlights Guerin Sandoval's distinguished career

While Pueblo County Undersheriff Steve Bryant recognized that nothing he said would do Guerin Sandoval justice, he said he believed that the number of law enforcement officers and community members who showed out to honor the fallen officer Monday was a testament to Guerin Sandoval, her family, and her profession.

Bryant, who previously spoke to reporters on Oct. 2, noted her amazing work ethic and recounted how Guerin Sandoval worked long hours to ensure things were done correctly and that important shifts were covered.

Bryant also noted her commendations for service, including earning detention officer of the year and law enforcement officer of the year in 2010 and 2018, respectively. "Not many in our department can say they've earned both," Bryant said.

The undersheriff also recounted how once, Guerin Sandoval and two other officers took down three drive-by suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, in a crowded convenience store.

"These ladies safely took the suspects into custody in a very congested public place," he said. "The girls received accolades, and a female captain documented in her files, 'I just want to say I'm very proud of you for taking the suspects down (that day). That is girl power at its finest.'"

"Christine was one of the most dependable and loyal deputies I have ever worked with," he said. "I have seen Christine demonstrate professionalism under the most trying of circumstances, and demonstrate humanity to those some might say deserve none. She has shown dedication to duty as the clock ticked long past her scheduled work day."

Governor orders flags at half-mast to honor 'a Colorado hero'

Gov. Jared Polis stated he ordered flags flown at half-mast all across Colorado Monday in honor of Guerin Sandoval's service.

"This is one of the occasions that we wish that we weren't here, that Christine was still with us, as wife, mother, friend, colleague in blue, or public servant," Polis aid. "Nonetheless, we are here, and we don't take lightly the privilege and honor of celebrating the person she was, personally, professionally, or as a Colorado hero."

The governor noted that Guerin Sandoval was someone who gave everything she had to what she did, both personally and professionally.

"Christine served all of us in many different roles. What those roles had in common is her desire to give back to her community, to make her community safer, to make her community better," he said.

During her career in law enforcement, several individuals wrote letters of gratitude about Christine, Polis said, with one citizen writing "you are fortunate to have such a superb deputy and employee, and we are grateful to have her patrolling our area."

"Her work ethic, her kindness, her commitment to her job is something everyone was proud of," Polis said.

Polis presented a folded flag, previously flown over the state capitol in her honor, to Guerin Sandoval's family, in recognition of her service to Colorado.

Sandoval was also honored by a 21-gun salute, a "blue tipped rose" ceremony in which officers from many different agencies placed blue-tipped white roses in front of her casket to symbolize the solidarity of law enforcement when an officer falls; and a fallen comrade table, representing the grief of those losing an officer, friend, and family member and the hope of being reunited one day.

Sandoval's casket was escorted out of the church by a full DOC honor guard.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jayreutter1.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Fallen Pueblo peace officer remembered as 'a Colorado hero'