Donald W. Redfern
Agency patch
Patrolman

Donald W. Redfern

Albuquerque Police Department — Albuquerque, NM
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch August 15, 1951
Age 27
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Redfern was struck by a drunk driver and killed while directing traffic at the scene of a flash flood. The vehicle was traveling approximately 50 mph when the driver lost control and slid into Patrolman Redfern and two other cars. The driver was arrested and charged with manslaughter. The 21-year-old driver was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 2 to 5 years. Patrolman Redfern had been with the agency for over two years and was survived by his wife and son. He was a World War II veteran.

Survivors

Patrolman Redfern had been with the agency for over two years and was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Redfern gave the Albuquerque Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albuquerque community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NM
Platform Identity apd.bernalillo.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 15, 1951
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Donald W. Redfern served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Donald is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1951, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Donald was 27. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Donald had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Albuquerque Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Donald among them.

Patrolman Donald W. Redfern

Albuquerque Police Department · End of Watch August 15, 1951

Military Service

Donald W. Redfern served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Donald W. Redfern’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

Also Remembered

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