Prev
Incident
Officer Brett Buckmister was killed after being involved in a two-car collision on U.S. 89 north of Bitter Springs, Arizona.
He was en route to an accident during a snowstorm when a van struck his patrol car on the passenger side. Three people in the second vehicle were also killed.
Officer Buckmister had served as a member of the Arizona Department of Public Safety for one year.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqjg2kdjxhvtax0akfex- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Brett. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
You barely got started.
Officer Buckmister gave the Arizona Department of Public Safety 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arizona. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Buckmister.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Arizona Department of Public Safety has lost 31 officers; 15 of them lost to accidents.
Brett is one of 95 officers lost to accidents in AZ, 28.8% of the 330 remembered there.
Brett is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Brett is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2000, 1 officer at Arizona Department of Public Safety was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 14 years on record. The heaviest was 1983, with 2.
In 2000, 1 officer in AZ was lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 56 years on record. The heaviest was 1973, with 5.
In 2000, 85 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 19th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2000, 91 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 36th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Brett was 27. Of the 15 lost to accidents at Arizona Department of Public Safety whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 36; the middle age was 33. Brett had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 5.5 years.
Brett was 27. Of the 92 lost to accidents in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 34.5. Brett had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Brett was 27. 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. Brett had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Brett was 27. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Brett had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 6.7% of these deaths at Arizona Department of Public Safety; October holds the most, 33.3%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
March holds 5.3% of these deaths in AZ; November holds the most, 14.7%. Tuesdays: 13.7%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 48.4% of all 31 deaths at Arizona Department of Public Safety, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.8% of all 330 deaths in AZ, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Arizona Department of Public Safety has 31 officers remembered here, Brett among them.
-
Louis O. Cochran
Dec 22, 1958
-
Paul E. Marston
Jun 9, 1969
-
Gilbert A. Duthie
Sep 5, 1970
-
James L. Keeton
Feb 5, 1971
-
Don A. Beckstead
Feb 7, 1971
-
Alan H. Hansen
Jul 19, 1973
-
Gregory A. Diley
Dec 2, 1977
-
Noah Mack Merrill, Jr.
Dec 11, 1978
-
John C. Walker
Nov 30, 1979
-
William Harding Murie
Nov 19, 1980
-
Thomas Patrick McNeff
Oct 2, 1983
-
Richard G. Stratman
Oct 2, 1983
-
Bruce A. Petersen
Oct 20, 1987
-
Edward Anthony Rebel
Jun 28, 1988
-
Johnny E. Garcia
Oct 14, 1989
-
John M. Blaser
Aug 31, 1990
-
David George Gabrielli
Aug 31, 1990
-
Manuel Hurtado Tapia
Jan 8, 1991
-
David Jon Zesiger
Jul 3, 1992
-
Mark Maynard Dryer
Jul 3, 1993
-
Michael Lynn Crowe
Jul 5, 1995
-
Robert K. Martin
Aug 15, 1995
-
Douglas Edward Knutson
Jan 2, 1998
-
Juan Nieblas Cruz
Dec 9, 1998
-
Floyd James Fink, Jr.
Feb 18, 2000
-
Brett C. Buckmister
Mar 21, 2000
-
Bruce Wesley Harrolle
Oct 13, 2008
-
Christopher Russell Marano
Dec 17, 2009
-
Timothy Allen Huffman
May 6, 2013
-
Tyler James Edenhofer
Jul 25, 2018
-
Hunter R. Bennett
Feb 4, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Arizona Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
