Edward Reina Jr.

On the evening of September 14th, 2025, Edward Reina Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by family at JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida, he was 77 years old.
Edward was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to Edward Madueno Reina and Jeanette French in 1948. He grew up on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. After high school, he was drafted into the United States Army, where he served during the Vietnam era in Germany as an infantry mortarman. After being honorably discharged, Edward would move his family to Sacramento, California, while taking part in the Indian Relocation Program.
It was after returning to the Salt River Indian Community that Edward found his calling in life as he began to pursue a career in law enforcement. From 1972 to 2012, Edward would serve as Chief of Police for the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe, and served as Director of Public Safety with the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Edward was a part of many organizations and associations dedicated to law enforcement, including the Tribal Law and Policy Institute (Board Member), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) executive committee, Indian Country Law Enforcement section (Past Chairman), Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (Only Tribal Police Chief to serve as President), Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, National Native American Law Enforcement Officers Association, Indian Country Intelligence Network, and the Arizona Association of Tribal Police Chiefs. He is most widely known as the respondent in Reina v. Duro, a Supreme Court case of 1990.
A lifelong learner, Edward graduated from Scottsdale Community College, with an AA Degree in Administration of Justice (1980), Arizona State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies (2016), and received his Master of Legal Studies with Emphasis on Tribal Self-Governance in May of 2023.
Edward enjoyed spending his days and nights with his wife, Dr. Enid Conley, and their seven four-legged furry family members (Fifi Marie Curie, Binky Jane Goodall, Candy Lise Meitner, Eddie Neil deGrasse Tyson, Amber Clea Koff, Heidi Francis G. Lee, and Albert Einstein – yes, they were named after scientists!). His time would be spent with Enid gardening, taking walks and hikes, learning new things, and helping to cook (he was the sous chef in the house!). And, very notably, Edward had a great sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Enid Conley, daughter Shannon Reina, son Edward Pacer Reina, and three adopted children. Grandchildren include Krystin Wood, Daniele Wood, Vincent Wood, Victoria Wood, Bee Wood-Jackson, Bruin Reina, Ki-Ana Reina, Nani Reina, Hostiin Reina, Tirsa Reina, Armani Larranaga, Amaiya Rice, Antonio Rice, Amir Rice, Amilleo Carrasco, Ryan Robles, Dominic Robles, Emma Conley, Michael Davis, Jade Davis (grandchild), Christian Davis (grandchild), and Daniel Sinclair.
A celebration of life service will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Salt River Memorial Hall