Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Arizona Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available
Sergeant Sagotal and Chief of Police Albert Sterling were killed by a group of Indians, including Geronimo, who were coming to raid the town of San Carlos, Arizona.
Chief Sterling and Sergeant Sagotal rode out to intercept them at their camp near the confluence of the San Carlos River and Gila River. The group shot both officers, killing Chief Sterling and wounding Sergeant Sagotal. Despite his wounds, Sergeant Sagotal rode back to town, organized a posse, and returned to the area. Upon their return, Sergeant Sagotal was fatally wounded. Chief Sterling was killed first and the guide later.
The group of Indians, numbering over 100, murdered over 50 people as they made their way to Mexico. They were attacked by both United States and Mexican troopers in which over 90 warriors were killed and over 30 women and children were captured.
Sgt. Sagotal, On today, the 140th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice as a Law Enforcement Officer.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol April 19th, 2022
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SCA-TR-2E2E1F74- 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
144 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant Sagotal served with the San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Carlos community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Sagotal 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 San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sagotal's cause is highlighted.
How Sagotal Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sagotal is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sagotal was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
