Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Haynes was killed when he was intentionally run down by a horse being ridden by a drunk man in Tularosa.
He was responding to reports that the man was attempting to run down several women on Main Street. Deputy Haynes was attempting to arrest the man when he was intentionally run down by the horse and trampled. He was taken to the local hotel where he died one hour later.
The 20-year-old man riding the horse was arrested for being drunk and murder. He was tried and acquitted.
Deputy Haynes was a widower and survived by several adult children. He was a veteran law enforcement officer and had previously served as the town marshal of Tularosa.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-28719987- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Haynes served with the Otero County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Alamogordo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Haynes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James F. Haynes 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 Otero County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James F. Haynes's cause is highlighted.
How James F. Haynes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James F. Haynes is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Otero County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
