Santa Maria cop's widow prepares for funeral, doesn't believe accusations

KSBY.com

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Less than a month after she married Santa Maria police officer Albert Covarrubias, Junior, his wife is making plans for his funeral service and defending him against accusations of an illegal sexual relationship with a teenager.

At their apartment in Santa Maria, where his police uniforms still hang in a closet, Gloria Covarrubias sorted through photos and memorabilia which she will have on display at his Monday funeral service. Those items include a letter from Chief Macagni written last October, recognizing Covarrubias as the police employee of the month for his "superior performance and positive attitude" in his handling of a robbery case. The chief also invited Covarrubias to have lunch with him and said he would be honored at an annual police luncheon in 2012.

His widow said through her sister that she does not believe the accusations against her newlywed husband. "She is not going to believe the reports," said Covarrubias' sister-in-law, Yovanna Rios on Thursday. "He really loved my sister. Why would he be messing around? he's not that type of person."

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