Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Manuel Tapia was shot and killed in Nogales by a man suspected of drug trafficking. He had stopped the subject's vehicle near 850 East Grand Avenue but the man fled on foot as they walked towards the trunk of the car. During the foot pursuit, the man turned and shot Sergeant Tapia. The man was shot and killed by another officer at the scene. After the shooting, it was discovered that Sergeant Tapia was unarmed as he had inadvertently left his gun in his vehicle. Sergeant Tapia was a U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant who served in the Vietnam War.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents, three children, three sisters, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-2A2BDEF7- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Manuel is one person.
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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.
Sergeant Tapia gave the Arizona Department of Public Safety 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arizona, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Manuel Hurtado Tapia served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Manuel Hurtado Tapia is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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. Manuel Hurtado Tapia's cause is highlighted.
How Manuel Hurtado Tapia Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Manuel Hurtado Tapia is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Manuel Hurtado Tapia was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Manuel Hurtado Tapia served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Manuel Hurtado Tapia’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Arizona Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
