Barney Dean Montoya

Gallup Police Department — Gallup, NM

Accident

End of Watch September 4, 1977

Age 39

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Sergeant Barney Montoya was killed when his patrol vehicle was struck by a 19-year-old youth who ran a stop sign at Boardman Drive and East Aztec in Gallup.

The subject was arrested and released on a written promise to appear in court. He was convicted of manslaughter and put on 3 years probation with the condition that he pay Sergeant Montoya's wife $75.00 a week for three years.

Sergeant Montoya had served with the Gallup Police Department for 18 years. He was a widower and survived by his two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-389F8FB5
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.
Sergeant Montoya gave the Gallup Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gallup community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Montoya.

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

Agency

Department Gallup Police Department

Location Gallup, NM

Platform Identity gpd.mckinley.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 4, 1977

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Sergeant Barney Dean Montoya is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NM, 59 of 193 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.6% of this state's fallen.

At Gallup Police Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Gallup Police Department

of 5 officers

40% Accident

NM — Statewide

of 193 officers

30.6% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident