Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Bergin was shot and killed by a mob while he was attempting to protect a prisoner.
The mob wanted to hang the prisoner for murdering local citizens. The mob hung the prisoner after shooting Deputy Bergin.
Deputy Bergin had served with the Colfax County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-53A3B2A3- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Bergin gave the Colfax County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Raton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William A. Bergin 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 Colfax County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William A. Bergin's cause is highlighted.
How William A. Bergin Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William A. Bergin is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Colfax County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
