Jair Abelardo Cabrera
Agency patch
Police Officer

Jair Abelardo Cabrera

Salt River Police Department — Scottsdale, AZ
Felonious
End of Watch May 24, 2014
Age 37
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 163 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Arizona Weapon: Rifle; AR-15 Offender: Sentenced to life

Police Officer Jair Cabrera was shot and killed while making a traffic stop near the intersection of Chaparral Road and Pima Road, on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, at 3:05 am.

The vehicle pulled into a gas station near the border with Scottsdale city. A subject armed with a rifle exited the car, steadied the rifle on the roof, and opened fire. Officer Cabrera was struck in the head by one of the rounds before he exited his patrol car. Three subjects fled the scene on foot but were all apprehended.

Officer Cabrera was transported to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

On September 17th, 2015, the subject was convicted of first degree murder and using a firearm in commission of a violent crime resulting in murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. The man was who was driving the vehicle and supplied the weapon was sentenced to 27 years.

Officer Cabrera had served for seven years with the Salt River Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, brother, and girlfriend.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SRP-TR-25C376CB
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.
Police Officer Cabrera gave the Salt River Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Scottsdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cabrera.

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

Agency

Location Scottsdale, AZ
Platform Identity srpd.nn.tribal.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 2014
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; AR-15
Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Jair Abelardo Cabrera 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Salt River Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Salt River Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
AZ — Statewide
204
of 330 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jair Abelardo Cabrera's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Jair Abelardo Cabrera Compares

Age at End of Watch
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jair Abelardo Cabrera is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jair Abelardo Cabrera was killed by rifle; ar-15.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Salt River Police Department are honored on badge.nw.