Photo by Craig FritzTribune

Tribune

Rio Rancho police Officer Germaine Casey's boots and motorcycle helmet sit on the sidewalk at the Albuquerque International Sunport after the crash that killed him. Casey was riding escort in President Bush's motorcade Monday when his motorcycle apparently hit a curb, then a tree, at the Sunport.

Photo by Craig FritzTribune

Tribune

A State Police officer (left) and an Albuquerque police officer render aid to Rio Rancho police Officer Germaine Casey after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed at Albuquerque International Sunport. Casey was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital, but died there a few hours later Monday.

AP Photo / Evan Vucci

A Rio Rancho, New Mexico motorcycle officer receives emergency medical attention from two unidentified officers at the scene of a crash. The officer, who later died at University of New Mexico Hospital, was riding in a presidential motorcade.at the Albuquerque International Sunport Monday, Aug. 27, 2007.

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Germaine Casey had his 40th birthday this year. He was starting to get old for a ballplayer, but Casey still swung for the fences.

"He hit 500-foot home runs," said Bret Helenius, a pitcher for the New Mexico Mets, an amateur club on which Casey played first base.

"He's a legend," Helenius said. "You say his name to any baseball player in New Mexico, and they knew him."

Casey was also an officer for the Rio Rancho Police Department, and it was in that capacity that he died Monday while traveling in President Bush's motorcade near the Albuquerque International Sunport.

Casey became the first Rio Rancho police officer to die in the line of duty. He leaves a wife and two children, ages 14 and 17.

Police believe Casey hit a curb and then a tree as the motorcade returned to the Albuquerque International Sunport, Rio Rancho police spokesman John Francis said.

The impact was so hard his motorcycle seat detached from the bike and he landed several feet from the collision.

His helmet was still on as fellow officers jumped off their bikes to try to save him.

Casey was rushed to University of New Mexico Hospital where he was put on life-support. He died about 3:30 p.m., Francis said.

Police have yet to disclose how fast Casey and his fellow motorcycle officers were traveling as they rode ahead of the president's limo.

Journalists in the motorcade report reaching high speeds as it made its way south on I-25, which was closed to all traffic.

Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, who visited with the president in town, said he was behind the president in the motorcade and saw the aftermath of the crash.

"My heart just sank," White said, noting the motorcade was traveling "pretty fast."

Francis said other details of the crash will be made public as the investigation continues. The crash might have been caught by Sunport security cameras.

Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz and Francis said the officers in the motorcade - about 70 from the Albuquerque Police Department, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department, the Rio Rancho Police Department and State Police - had practiced the motorcade route at least once before Bush arrived at Kirtland Air Force Base at 11:24 a.m. Monday.

Bush met with U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, an Albuquerque Republican, for a fund-raiser at a private home in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque that Domenici's chief of staff said raised $434,000. Bush left the home just after 1 p.m. and headed back to Kirtland via the Sunport.

Casey crashed as the motorcade rounded a curve on the road usually used as an exit by airport traffic. Bush then drove past the crash site.

Bush called Francis to offer condolences to the Rio Rancho Police Department, Francis said.

The White House said Bush also called Casey's wife to express his sorrow. Bush later issued this statement about Casey's death:

"I am deeply saddened by his death and extraordinarily grateful for his protection. It is a high calling to choose to serve and protect your fellow citizens, and I will always be indebted to Officer Casey's service.

"He leaves behind his wife, Lisa, and their two children. They are in my thoughts and prayers. May God comfort the Casey family and his fellow law enforcement officials."

Casey's sacrifice was for an important cause, Schultz said.

"It is important for the security of the country. The last thing you need is to have the president involved in an act of violence," Schultz said. "Motorcades are extremely important. We have an obligation for the well-being of the entire country to make sure they (officials) are safe."

Domenici said he was "deeply saddened" by Casey's death.

"The thoughts and prayers of my wife, Nancy, and I are with his family during this dark time," Domenici wrote in a statement issued hours after his campaign fund-raiser and the crash.

This is the second time a local motorcycle officer has been involved in a crash while escorting the president. In February 2006, a police officer with the town of Bernalillo lost control of his motorcycle on southbound I-25 near Avenida Cesar Chavez. Sgt. Jerry Nixon suffered minor injuries.

In November 2006, a police officer in Honolulu died after his motorcycle collided with two other officers in a motorcade escorting the president.

Schultz said officers who ride in motorcades must take extra training to participate in dignitary protection.

Casey, who'd been with Rio Rancho police for two years, had taken this training, Francis said.

Casey had served with the University of New Mexico Police Department before signing on with Rio Rancho police.

"During his two-year tenure (with UNM police), Officer Casey built relationships in the department that continue to this day. He was a man of integrity and always demonstrated initiative," UNM police officers wrote in a statement Monday night.

Francis called Casey a quiet man.

Casey lived with his family in Northwest Albuquerque.

Carol Wolverton, who lives across the street from the Casey family, remembers Casey as a quiet man whose children played in the neighborhood.

"It seems so strange," she said. "I just said hello to him today."

For the Mets, the rest of the 2007 season will be a struggle, Helenius said.

Last year, the team won the state championship in the Men's Amateur Baseball League, led by Casey, who had played in the Atlanta Braves' minor league system, Helenius said.

So far, the Mets are 20-1, with a couple of weeks to play. Casey was hitting .600, with six home runs and 25 RBIs, in just 48 at-bats, according to the team's Web site.

"He was a real quiet guy but he had such a big presence," Helenius said. "He was such a big part of our team and our league, I just don't know."