Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Juan Cruz was killed when his patrol car was rear-ended while he was investigating another accident on I-10, at the exit for Ruthrauff Road in Tucson. He was sitting in his patrol car, which was parked in the left lane with emergency lights activated when the crash curred. The patrol car burst into flames and, as another officer attempted to free him, a small explosion occurred. The vehicle that struck him had driven through a line of flares and didn't slow down before the impact. The driver of that vehicle, who turned 21 the day before the crash, was taken to a local hospital and a homicide investigation was started. The driver ad a BAC of .168. She plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Officer Cruz had been with the department for 17 years. He is survived by five children and fiancee. He was planning on being remarried only two weeks after the incident.
Survivors
He is survived by five children and fiancee.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-063E7C21- 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.
Officer Cruz gave the Arizona Department of Public Safety 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arizona. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cruz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Juan Nieblas Cruz 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 Arizona Department of Public Safety, 16 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Juan Nieblas Cruz's cause is highlighted.
How Juan Nieblas Cruz Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 11 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Juan Nieblas Cruz is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Juan Nieblas Cruz was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Arizona Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
