Jimmy Apodaca is the deputy chief. At Friday's press conference, he said, "Sheriff Samaniego passed away in his sleep at 2:41 p.m. He was surrounded by his family and friends."

Many more friends of Samaniego were at Friday's conference remembering the legacy he leaves behind.

"I do feel we have lost a great man, someone who cannot be replaced. There is only one Sheriff Samaniego," said Jose Rodriguez, the county attorney.

In September, Samaniego announced his retirement. He did not say it was because of medical reasons.

"I'm gone, but everybody still here -- they know what needs to be done, they know which direction we need to go, and they are going to continue to go in that direction," Samaniego said in September.

In a letter Samaniego wrote to county Judge Anthony Cobos and county commissioners exactly one month ago, he made his wishes clear, saying, "I have not given up the fight on this disease. I will beat this disease. If I die from this disease, I am expressing my sincere wish to the El Paso commissioners court to appoint Jimmy Apodaca to finish my term to expire on December 31, 2008."

According to law, the deputy chief runs the office until a successor is appointed before the end of the term, which is December of next year, but county officials said their decision will be one made out of respect.

"I personally would like to hear Sheriff's Samaniego's last wishes, and that was to have Chief Apodaca lead the sheriff's department," Cobos said.

County Commissioner Luis Sarinana agreed.

"He mentioned to me that there was a document and that he wanted for us to respect that," he said.

Sheriff Samaniego was the longest-running sheriff in El Paso's history. All flags have been ordered to fly at half staff in the county, and deputies will be wearing a black band over their badges until further notice.