Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Juan Tafoya was shot and killed as he attempted to intervene in a dispute between three brothers and a saloon owner.
One of the cowboys had gone to the saloon to drink and gamble. At one point during the time in the saloon he felt that he had been cheated and left the saloon, warning that he would be back.
After he left the barkeep sent for Sheriff Tafoya, who went to the saloon and waited for the man to return. When the man came back he was accompanied by his two brothers. Despite the saloon owner offering to give the man his money back, he yelled that someone was going to die. At that point Sheriff Tafoya reached for the man's gun but was shot in the chest and head.
The brothers fled but were quickly located by a posse. Two of the brothers were shot and killed and the third was hanged after being captured.
Sheriff Tafoya had served as sheriff for only one year. He was survived by his wife and seven children. He is buried in Las Animas, Colorado.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-B9BF3697- 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
154 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Tafoya gave the Las Animas County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Trinidad community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Juan C. Tafoya 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Las Animas County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Juan C. Tafoya's cause is highlighted.
How Juan C. Tafoya Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Juan C. Tafoya is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Juan C. Tafoya was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Las Animas County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
