Roll of Honor
Horst Harold Woods
Incident
Police Officer Horst Woods was shot and killed while approaching a man who was kneeling down beside his patrol car at the New Mexico VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As Officer Woods approached the man from the opposite side of the vehicle, the man stood up. The two exchanged words and then the man raised his left arm and shot at Officer Woods. As Officer Woods turned away, he was struck once in the back of the head. The man then kept responding officers and rescue personnel from reaching Officer Woods. After a 20-minute standoff, the man surrendered to members of United States Air Force Security Police. The man was found with two extra fully loaded magazines, an 18-inch bowie knife, and a long-barreled Derringer loaded with two shotgun shells. Officer Woods was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police Department for eight months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-227131E4- 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 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.
Police Officer Woods served with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Horst Harold Woods served in the Navy (1983â1993) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Horst Harold Woods 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Horst Harold Woods's cause is highlighted.
How Horst Harold Woods Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Horst Harold Woods is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Horst Harold Woods was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services are honored on badge.nw.
