Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Frank Vigil and Deputy Sheriff Daniel Bustamante were shot and killed about 20 miles west of Santa Rita while attempting to arrest a group of men who had robbed a Santa Fe Railroad train in Belen.
The two deputies, along with two Native American trackers, trailed the men and located their campground. As they attempted to arrest them, the men opened fire with Winchester rifles, killing both deputies and one of the trackers, whose name is not known. The remaining tracker retrieved their horses and returned to Magdalena, where he sent a telegram to the sheriff.
Deputy Vigil was survived by his wife, adopted Native American daughter, and brother.
Survivors
Deputy Vigil was survived by his wife, adopted Native American daughter, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-184A06C3- 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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Tributes
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Vigil served with the Valencia County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Los Lunas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Frank Vigil 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 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 63.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Valencia County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Vigil's cause is highlighted.
How Frank Vigil Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Vigil is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Valencia County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
