Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff William Rutherford was shot and killed while investigating two men who matched the description of prisoners who had just escaped from a neighboring county. He approached the car and asked the men if he could search it. As the men tried to pull away the sheriff jumped on the running board. One of the men inside then shot him with a 30-30 rifle that had been stolen from the deputies in the previous escape. The men were eventually apprehended and sentenced to death but later had their sentenced commuted and then pardoned by the Governor. Sheriff Rutherford had only served with the Otero County Sheriff's Department for six weeks.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-3EC86429- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Rutherford 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, Sheriff Rutherford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff William L. Rutherford 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 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. William L. Rutherford's cause is highlighted.
How William L. Rutherford Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William L. Rutherford is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William L. Rutherford was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Otero County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
