Ralph R. Higginbotham

Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office — Las Cruces, NM

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 30, 1952

Age 29

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ralph Higginbotham was shot and killed while he and a town marshal stopped a speeding car at the intersection of US 85 and State Road 26 in Hatch. Deputy Higginbotham and the Hatch Town Marshal were on routine patrol when a vehicle went speeding past them. The vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit ensued. When the car was stopped at an intersection, Deputy Higginbotham got out of the patrol car. The man opened fire on them with a .45 caliber handgun. Deputy Higginbotham and the marshal returned fire as the subject fled in his vehicle. The marshal was shot in the shoulder but drove Deputy Higginbotham to the Las Cruces Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries an hour later. The suspect was apprehended by a small posse. On November 26, 1952, the suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled in May of 1963. Deputy Higginbotham was a United States Army World War II veteran. He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, mother, and sister. His daughter and grandson also served in law enforcement.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, mother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-B423E09C
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.
Deputy Sheriff Higginbotham served with the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Las Cruces community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office

Location Las Cruces, NM

Platform Identity dacso.doaana.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 30, 1952

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Paroled in 1963

Military Service

Ralph R. Higginbotham served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Ralph R. Higginbotham 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 Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office

of 10 officers

60% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious