Incident
Location: New Mexico Weapon: Rifle Offender: Shot and killed
Deputy Harvey Bolin was shot and killed in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, while riding with a posse attempting to apprehend a group of bank robbers. The posse tracked the men to a farmhouse and took positions nearby. The Lamb County Sheriff observed one of the men and called out to him to put up his hands. The suspects then grabbed several weapons and opened fire. Deputy Bolin was struck in the head and killed instantly. A second deputy was seriously injured.
The suspects fled the scene and continued to run from the law. They were responsible for the murders of three other law enforcement officers before one of them was shot and killed, and the others were arrested. The other officers killed were: Sheriff John Moseley of Swisher County, Texas; Chief Deputy Thomas Jones of Lincoln County, New Mexico; and Deputy Joseph Brown of Wise County, Texas.
Deputy Bolin had been in law enforcement for almost 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and ten children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-269B55F2- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Bolin gave the Lamb County Sheriff's Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Littlefield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bolin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Harvey S. Bolin 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Lamb County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harvey S. Bolin's cause is highlighted.
How Harvey S. Bolin Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harvey S. Bolin is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harvey S. Bolin was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Lamb County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
