Leo Chavez

Valencia County Sheriff's Office — Los Lunas, NM

Accident

End of Watch December 12, 1986

Age 36

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 131 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Lieutenant Leo Chavez was killed when the department pickup truck he was driving left the roadway and overturned on the exit ramp from I-25 to NM 6. He was returning to the sheriff's office after picking up donated toys for the department's Toys for Tots from Cops program. Lieutenant Chavez had served with the Valencia County Sheriff's Office for four years and had previously served with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office for 11 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-7FB74C73
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Leo. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Chavez gave the Valencia County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Lunas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Chavez.

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

Agency

Department Valencia County Sheriff's Office

Location Los Lunas, NM

Platform Identity vcso.valencia.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1986

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Lieutenant Leo Chavez 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 Valencia County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.

Valencia County Sheriff's Office

of 7 officers

28.6% Accident

NM — Statewide

of 193 officers

30.6% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident