Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Albert Bluhm was shot and killed around 6:30 p.m. after he stopped a stolen truck behind the Bali Hi Motel at 16th Avenue & Linden Street in Phoenix. One of the two suspects opened fire as he hid in the camper shell of the truck. Officer Bluhm was shot three times and died while attempting to radio his position. A passing motorist notified the dispatcher of his location. Officer Bluhm was transported to Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased on arrival. While en route to the shooting scene, Police Officer Dale Stone was killed in a motorcycle crash. The suspects, both fugitives from Virginia and wanted in Utah in connection with the wounding of a state trooper, were arrested a week later in Cortez, Colorado, following a chase. The gunman was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 7, 1973. He died in prison on November 15, 2006. His accomplice was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to five years to life. Officer Bluhm was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served with the Phoenix Police Department for eight years. He previously served with the Edina (Minnesota) Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his teenage son and his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-C9C3738E- 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.
Police Officer Bluhm gave the Phoenix Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Albert Raymond Bluhm served in the Marine Corps (1951â1952) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Albert Raymond Bluhm 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 Phoenix Police Dept., 28 of 47 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Albert Raymond Bluhm's cause is highlighted.
How Albert Raymond Bluhm Compares
Offender Outcome
Life in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Albert Raymond Bluhm is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Albert Raymond Bluhm was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
46 officers from Phoenix Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
