Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Town Marshal Clemente Salazar was shot and killed while trying to break up a fight during the San Lorenzo Festival. Several men got into a fight at a dance, and when Marshal Salazar attempted to break it up, he was attacked. He was beaten, stabbed, and shot twice. His gun was also stolen and never recovered. A man was apprehended and charged with Marshal Salazar's murder. In March of 1951, the suspect, 24, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 50 to 70 years. He was released in lieu of a 20,000 bond while the New Mexico Supreme Court considered his appeal. A month later, he was arrested for receiving stolen property. A month after that, he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill after he hit a man in the head with a large rock. He was immediately sent to prison and lost his appeal. He was paroled on April 21, 1970. Marshal Salazar was survived by his wife and four children. He was buried in Bernalillo Cemetery, Bernalillo, New Mexico.
Survivors
Marshal Salazar was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NM-BC8C0D2E- 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.
Special Town Marshal Salazar served with the Bernalillo Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bernalillo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Town Marshal Salazar.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Town Marshal Clemente Salazar 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clemente Salazar's cause is highlighted.
How Clemente Salazar Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1970
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clemente Salazar is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clemente Salazar was killed by handgun.