Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Luis Castillo was killed in an automobile crash while responding to back up one of his officers at approximately 9:45 pm.
He and other officers were working drug interdiction at the time when the call for a backup was received from an officer who had made a traffic stop. During Chief Castillo's response on Highway 128, his patrol went out of control and rolled over several times. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight.
Chief Castillo had served with the Jal Police Department for 18 years and had served as chief for 13 years. He had previously served with the Carlsbad Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three adult children, four grandchildren, mother, and two sisters, and grandmother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-6E697A73- 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.
Chief of Police Castillo gave the Jal Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jal community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Castillo.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Luis M. Castillo 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Luis M. Castillo's cause is highlighted.
How Luis M. Castillo Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Luis M. Castillo is highlighted in Aug.