Nash Phillip Garcia

New Mexico State Police — Santa Fe, NM

Felonious

End of Watch April 11, 1952

Age 39

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 28

Incident

Patrolman Nash Garcia was killed after stopping a car near U.S. 66 in the Acoma Indian Reservation 18 miles east of Grants, New Mexico. The two suspects had prior dealings with Patrolman Garcia and intentionally violated several traffic laws in order to have Patrolman Garcia attempt to follow them. The suspects drove onto a dirt road in a mountainous area on Sandstone Mesa where they set up an ambush. As Patrolman Garcia came around a bend, he was shot by one of the two and then beaten to death. They placed his body in his car and drove it into a patch of trees. They returned the next night and set the vehicle on fire. The suspects, brothers 28 and 31, were sentenced to death. In 1953 they were granted new trials, convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to life. Patrolman Garcia had served in law enforcement for ten years. He was survived by his wife and three daughters. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-0D4A0ED2
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.
Patrolman Garcia gave the New Mexico State Police 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Mexico. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Garcia.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department New Mexico State Police

Location Santa Fe, NM

Platform Identity nmsp.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 11, 1952

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Offender Sentenced to life

Patrolman Nash Phillip Garcia 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 New Mexico State Police, 10 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 34.5% of this agency's fallen.

New Mexico State Police

of 29 officers

34.5% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious