Died during a rescue mission in Mopelia in 1976, while he was commander of the Raiatea brigade, Chief Marshal Christian Tehei and his family received tribute from the gendarmerie this Friday. His name was given to the Faa’a camp, the most important gendarmerie structure in the territory. Commander Demezon invited the young volunteer deputy gendarmes to follow in the footsteps of this “hero”.
He was 43 years old, he would have been more than twice that today. One day in February 1976, under calamitous weather, the commander of the Raiatea territorial brigade, Christian Tehei, did not hesitate to volunteer for a rescue mission, intended to recover a seriously injured man in Mopelia. This father of three and the eight rescuers who accompanied him will never return.
Nearly fifty years later, the chief quartermaster from Papeete is honored by the national gendarmerie. His name is given to the Faa’a camp, the largest gendarmerie infrastructure in Polynesia, which will henceforth be called the Christian-Tehei barracks.
“This gesture allows our young recruits to follow in the footsteps of our past heroes”
A fitting tribute for this Tahitian with an exemplary career “recognized for his hard work, his perfect knowledge of the human environment, his skills in matters of judicial investigation, and his remarkable results for which he has been congratulated three times”, underlines the commander of the gendarmerie in French Polynesia, Colonel Grégoire Demezon.
He invited the volunteer deputy gendarmes of the 2024 class, who were completing their training this Friday, to “do not forget his example”. “It was a strong gesture for us, a symbolic gesture, which allows our young recruits to follow in those of our past heroes”continues the colonel.
“The name of chef Christian Tehei also recalls the diversity of the missions carried out, particularly in the archipelagos. It is important to honor it, because it is the commitment of the gendarmerie to the service of all Polynesians”for his part greets the secretary general of the high commission, Xavier Marotel.
The unveiling of the plaque took place in the presence of the family of the deceased, “with whom we have worked a lot”to build this tribute, specifies Colonel Demezon.
