Manuel Olivas

New Mexico State Police — Santa Fe, NM

Felonious

End of Watch February 1, 1985

Age 32

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 129 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 28

Incident

Patrolman Manuel Olivas was struck and killed by a drunk driver while investigating an earlier accident on I-25 near the Pecos River Bridge in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He was struck while taking measurements at the accident scene. The suspect continued driving but was later arrested during a police search of the area. The man was charged with vehicular homicide. Patrolman Olivas had been in law enforcement for seven years. He was survived by his expectant wife and daughter. His wife gave birth to his son only three months after his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-064E5C85
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.
Patrolman Olivas gave the New Mexico State Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Mexico. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Olivas.

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

Agency

Department New Mexico State Police

Location Santa Fe, NM

Platform Identity nmsp.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 1, 1985

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Charged with vehicular homicide

Patrolman Manuel Olivas 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 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 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At New Mexico State Police, 10 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 34.5% of this agency's fallen.

New Mexico State Police

of 29 officers

34.5% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious