Roll of Honor
Incident
Ranger Carlos Tafolla was shot and killed during a shootout along Reservation Creek near the Black River. He was riding with a posse that was tracking the Bill Smith Gang. Ranger Tafolla and Deputy Sheriff Bill Maxwell of the Apache County Sheriff's Office were approaching the gang when one of the gang members asked how they should surrender. As the man approached them, he was dragging his rifle behind him but brought it up and shot Deputy Maxwell in the head, killing him instantly. Ranger Tafolla was shot twice in the torso and died that night. The suspect fled to Argentina and was never apprehended. As Ranger Tafolla was dying, he pulled out a silver dollar and asked that it be given to his wife as it, and his unpaid wages would be all that she would get. A two-year pension was later approved for her when the story was told. Ranger Tafolla had been an Arizona Ranger for only six weeks. He was survived by his wife and three children. He is buried in Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery, Saint Johns, Apache County, Arizona.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-996FF136- 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.
Ranger Tafolla served with the Arizona Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Ranger Tafolla.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Ranger Carlos Tafolla 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Carlos Tafolla's cause is highlighted.
How Carlos Tafolla Compares
Offender Outcome
Fled the country
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carlos Tafolla is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Carlos Tafolla was killed by rifle; .303 caliber.