Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Gerald Cline was shot and killed after responding to a report of a man with a gun at a low-rent motel at 5715 Central N.E in Albuquerque. Officer Cline was the first officer to arrive at the scene. He parked his cruiser at the northeast corner of the motel and began to walk on the sidewalk toward the room. Suddenly, the suspect stepped out of the room and fired a round from a 30-30 rifle point blank into Officer Cline's chest, killing him. A civilian ride-along in Officer Cline's cruiser called for help and to warn other responding officers. The 29-year-old subject was apprehended and sentenced to death but had his sentence commuted to life by a governor prior to leaving office after losing in a landslide defeat. He was denied parole in March 2015. He died in prison on February 14, 2019, approximately one month before his next parole hearing. Officer Cline had served with the Albuquerque Police Department for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. His brother-in-law was also an officer with the agency. He was buried at the Sunset Memorial Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Survivors
Survivors attended. The Second National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial was in 1983, where 10 Surviving Widows attended. These 10 Widows, working in concert with the National Ladies FOP Auxiliary, on May 14, 1984 Created Concerns of Police Survivors, COPS!
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-E3FEE0A7- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Cline gave the Albuquerque Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albuquerque community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cline.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Gerald Eugene Cline is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 63.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Albuquerque Police Department, 13 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gerald Eugene Cline's cause is highlighted.
How Gerald Eugene Cline Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald Eugene Cline is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gerald Eugene Cline was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Albuquerque Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
