According to state officials, 224 New Mexico law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the line of duty to date.
Sources: Roswell Police Department (via Facebook), N.M. Department of Public Safety
As Memorial Day approaches, communities across New Mexico are reflecting on the service and sacrifice of the men and women who wear the badge — and the agencies and families who stand beside them.
Just days before the holiday weekend, state leaders gathered in Santa Fe for the annual Law Enforcement Memorial at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, honoring officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, including Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Deputy Antonio De Jesus Aleman and Bloomfield Police Department Officer Timothy Ontiveros, both lost in 2025.
“Today we honor not only the service of Deputy Antonio De Jesus Aleman and Officer Timothy Ontiveros, but the courage and character that defined their lives,” DPS Cabinet Secretary Jason Bowie said during the ceremony.
The memorial comes during a difficult season for law enforcement agencies across the state.
On May 23, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety issued a statement mourning the loss of Joseph Apodaca of the Taos County Sheriff’s Office, who died in the line of duty. Secretary Bowie described Apodaca as a deputy who served “with courage, dedication, and a deep commitment to protecting others.”
Earlier this month, the Roswell Police Department announced the death of Officer Daniel Irvin, a Field Training Officer who had served the department for nearly four and a half years. Fellow agencies, including the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police, assisted Roswell officers in the immediate aftermath while members of the department and community mourned his loss.
In statements released throughout the month, law enforcement leaders repeatedly emphasized not only remembrance, but support for the officers who continue serving communities across New Mexico each day.
According to state officials, 224 New Mexico law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the line of duty to date.
As Memorial Day observances continue across the state this weekend, agencies, families, and communities alike are pausing to remember lives dedicated to public service — and the lasting impact those individuals leave behind.
We are grieving and standing in solidarity with our law enforcement community after the sudden and tragic loss of Taos County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Joseph Apodaca who died in the line of duty late Friday evening. LCPD extends its collective condolences to Sgt. Apodaca’s family, friends, and his brothers and sisters who served alongside him. May he rest in peace. (via Facebook)
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