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Incident
Undersheriff Zach Allen was shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity.
He and a Del Norte police officer had arrested two horse thieves and placed them in the county jail. They received word that friends of the men were going to try to break them out overnight.
The Del Norte officer was tasked with guarding the jail and the two agreed that Undersheriff Allen were to give a signal when he returned. At approximately 2:00 am Undersheriff Allen returned to the jail and was challenged by the Del Norte officer. Undersheriff Allen failed to give the agreed upon signal and was shot by the officer, who didn't realize it was the undersheriff.
Undersheriff Allen acknowledged on his deathbed that he should have given the signal.
Undersheriff Allen had previously served as the sheriff of both Huerfano County and Pueblo County.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
151 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Undersheriff Allen served with the Rio Grande County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Del Norte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Zach is the only officer of Rio Grande County Sheriff's Office remembered here.
Zach is one of 101 officers lost to accidents in CO, 28% of the 361 remembered there.
Zach is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Zach is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1875, 1 officer in CO was lost to accidents, the 24th heaviest of 66 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 4.
In 1875, 1 officer in the United States was lost to accidents, the 163rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1875, 7 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 164th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Zach was 41. Of the 79 lost to accidents in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37.
Zach was 41. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
Zach was 41. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
August holds 10.9% of these deaths in CO; July holds the most, 11.9%. Mondays: 16.8%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.4%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Rio Grande County Sheriff's Office.
Accident deaths account for 28% of all 361 deaths in CO, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
Where the Name Is Cut
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