Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Deputy Sheriff

Emilio Candelaria

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department — Albuquerque, NM

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch January 29, 1930

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 59 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 10

Incident

Deputy Candelaria was shot and killed when he accompanied three other deputies, and three federal probation agents as they attempted to serve a warrant near Sedillo.

Deputy Candelaria and the three other deputies hid outside the home of the suspect while the probation agents entered. As the agents read the warrant to the suspect, the brother of the suspect and his friend encountered the deputies outside. One of the suspects shot Deputy Candelaria with a shotgun as he attempted to move from his position.

The agents inside the house, thinking they were surrounded, fled from the house. One of the agents went back into town to call for back-up. When back-up arrived, the officers surrounded the house and forced all the suspects to surrender.

Deputy Candelaria died of his wounds as he was being transported to the hospital.

A total of nine suspects were arrested and charged in relation to Deputy Candelaria's murder. Two, ages 23 and 48, were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 to 50 years.

Deputy Candelaria, an Army veteran who served during WWI, was survived by his wife and son.

Survivors

Deputy Candelaria, an Army veteran who served during WWI, was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-D96EC121
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Emilio. 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

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Candelaria served with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Albuquerque community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department

Type Other

Location Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NM

Platform Identity bcso.bernalillo.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 29, 1930

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Emilio Candelaria served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Emilio Candelaria is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 9.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.4% of this agency's fallen.

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department

of 11 officers

36.4% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious