Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Larry Koren was never off duty, and always willing to offer a helping hand to local residents.
That’s how people are recalling Koren, 55, one of four first responders killed in a July 16 helicopter crash. Others were identified as Lt. Fred Beers, 51, and Deputy Michael Levison, 30, all of the sheriff's office; and Rescue Specialist Matthew King, 44, of Bernalillo County Fire Rescue.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Metro 2 crashed just outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico, at 7:20 p.m. July 16. The helicopter and crew members were helping manage a wildfire in the area. The helicopter crew had departed Albuquerque to assist with the East Mesa Fire and was helping crews on the ground with air logistics and bucket drops to help put out the fire. They were returning to Albuquerque at the time of the crash.
Two of the victims survived the crash and one called 911. Encroaching darkness made it difficult to find the site of the accident, and the caller was in pain and disoriented. Rescuers arrived about 30 minutes after the helicopter struck the ground at a high rate of speed, but could not save the two injured men, whose identities were not released.
The cause of the crash is unknown and a multifaceted/multiagency investigation is currently ongoing. BCSO worked with the Office of the Medical Investigator to recover the fallen from the site of the crash and return them to Albuquerque.
“It is with a sad and broken heart that we think of the heroes we lost this weekend,” Sheriff Manuel Gonzales and Fire Chief Greg Perez said in a joint statement. “The reality is that we will likely grieve this loss forever. Each of these heroes died doing what they loved, serving others. They paid the ultimate price, and we are forever grateful to these men for the love and passion they had as first-responders.”
People who knew Koren spoke highly of his dedication to duty and to serving others.
David R. Anderson of Albuquerque met Koren at an BCSO opening night celebration for the citizens’ police academy.
“Larry and other command staff members along with Sheriff Manny Gonzales met all of the new students,” Anderson told the New Mexico Sun. “Undersheriff Koren was sincerely, friendly, very personal, professional and down to earth. Larry was highly respected by all that were fortunate enough to know him. Larry was very approachable. He also had an incredible smile.”
Their paths crossed again last year.
“I had the pleasure of speaking with Larry again and meeting his incredible wife at a Manny Gonzales for mayor campaign event,” he said. “Larry reminded me of a good old country boy — the real deal. I asked him if he was going to run for sheriff. He said that he and his family were discussing the idea. I told him that I thought he would make a great sheriff.”
Koren did run for sheriff and Anderson canvassed his neighborhood and stopped at local businesses on his behalf.
“I met with Larry the day of the primary election and I wished him the best. I still have his campaign sign hanging in my man cave,” he said. “He would have been an outstanding community policing advocate. I have heard many instances where Larry responded to citizens’ requests for law enforcement help. Larry believed in law enforcement serving the public.
“Larry was not a politician. He was a straight shooter, not a pretentious bone in his body,” Anderson said. “Larry was a team player.”
He said Koren, who finished sixth in a seven-candidate field for the Democratic nomination for sheriff on June 7, had a way of making people feel relaxed around him, a notable skill for someone in his line of work.
“I had the pleasure of meeting with Larry at several law enforcement events. Larry, his wife and his team met with our citizens‘ police academy class at the Double Eagle Airport II and we all had a relaxed, incredible evening, lots of laughter. I miss him!”
Trish Logan of Albuquerque never met Koren in person but talked to him on the phone several times. Logan said she grew to greatly admire him.
“My former brother-in-law, Joe Abbin, referred me to him when I had a neighbor who was trying to get a squatter evicted from her home. The sheriff's department was very helpful, but she’s elderly and there was a language barrier when she was upset, so things weren’t going as smoothly as they needed to go,” she told the New Mexico Sun.
A person who was negotiating to purchase the home had been allowed to move in by a real estate agent despite the lack of any signed paperwork. When the woman asked the intruder to leave, he refused. This went on for three years, Logan said.
“She did every single legal thing to get him out, but nothing worked. He never paid a penny, did damage to the house, and she ended up with a lien on her house because of the water bill he didn’t pay,” she said. “She tried taking him to court, but COVID came along and that was delayed for months. Finally, she managed to get him into court and the judge gave him 30 days to move out, but again he refused.
“I called Joe to get his advice about what to do, and he gave me Larry’s phone number. He said Larry was so dedicated and such a good guy he would help in any way, and he did,” Logan said. “I called him on a Sunday, and he jumped right on what we needed to do to solve the problem.”
By Tuesday, two deputies came to the home ready to take action.
“He wasn’t there, but Larry had given us advice to have a locksmith at the ready to change the locks, which we did. They were all so professional and brave,” Logan said. “In the end, I think Larry’s help was the turning point to help this woman recover the property and sell it to a legitimate buyer through a legitimate agent. I have such great respect for all law enforcement, but especially the sheriff’s department. Larry will be so very missed.”
Abbin said when Logan called him about this problem, he called Koren and asked if he could do something about it. The Albuquerque Police Department had been contacted earlier and said it was a civil matter.
Abbin, who was a reserve police officer for 38 years before retiring in 2020 when he was 78, said he thought someone should help the woman who was trying to remove this man from her home. Koren agreed.
“That’s a big problem when someone squats in your house and you can’t get them out,” Abbin told the New Mexico Sun. “I was just very impressed with the man. He went out of his way to do a job my own department had refused to do.”
They didn’t meet when Abbin worked for the police department, but did so when Gonzales was running for mayor.
“When Manny was running for mayor, I met Larry at a Volunteers for Manny kind of meeting,” he said. “We had a chance to talk and I enjoyed my conversation with Larry and his wife, Maria. At that time, Larry was running for sheriff. I was just impressed with the man and we agreed to stay in touch.”
The news of the fatal crash was stunning, Abbin said. The men killed were trying to help others, and it was not something they had to do. They chose to be there, he said.
“I am sure they did it, it was not a required assignment. They did it because they wanted to do it,” Abbin said. “It was a tragedy.”
Logan said there is one part of the story she has put off for now.
“I learned that Larry was the real deal when it came to law enforcement and being a public servant even when he was off duty,” she said. “I haven’t had the heart to tell my little neighbor about his death.”