Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Billy Meador succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day when he was shot while attempting to make an arrest in Mountainair with his father, who was the county sheriff.
They were attempting to arrest the parolee on a warrant for assaulting an officer in Bernalillo County when the shooting occurred. The subject was shot and wounded during the shootout but was able to escape.
He was eventually arrested, convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to 75 to 80 years. He received a new trial, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, and sentenced to 10 to 20 years. The subject's brother and brother-in-law were acquitted of the same charge.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-2D6B2495- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Meador served with the Torrance County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Estancia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Meador.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Billy Meador is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Torrance County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Billy Meador's cause is highlighted.
How Billy Meador Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Billy Meador is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Billy Meador was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Torrance County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
