Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Michael Avilucea was killed in an automobile crash in Rio Arriba County while returning from an operation in which he had assisted with recovering explosives.
His patrol car rolled over on US 84, three miles south of Tierra Amarilla, as he returned to his normal duty station.
Lieutenant Avilucea had served with the New Mexico State Police for over 26 years and was the commander of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team.
Survivors
He is survived by his son and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-B012958F- 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
26 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Avilucea gave the New Mexico State Police 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Mexico. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Avilucea.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Michael C. Avilucea is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NM, 59 of 193 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.6% of this state's fallen.
At New Mexico State Police, 18 of 29 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 62.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael C. Avilucea's cause is highlighted.
How Michael C. Avilucea Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Michael C. Avilucea is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from New Mexico State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
