Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Arizona Incident Date: Saturday, June 25, 2011 Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Sentenced to 35 years
Sergeant Darrell Curley was shot and killed when he and another officer responded to a domestic disturbance in Kaibito, Arizona.
The dispute involved a fight between two brothers at a housing complex. Sergeant Curley attempted to subdue both brothers with pepper spray when they resisted arrest. As he attempted to place them in custody the father of the men opened fire, striking Sergeant Curley. Despite being wounded, Sergeant Curley was able to return fire.
Another officer who had responded to the scene was also shot and wounded. Sergeant Curley was transported to a hospital in Page, Arizona, where he succumbed to his wounds early the following morning.
The father was charged with first-degree murder in the federal courts. In July 2012 he pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to only 35 years in prison. The two brothers were charged under tribal laws with homicide, disorderly conduct, and other offenses.
Sergeant Curley had served with the Navajo Division of Public Safety for 25 years and was assigned to the Tuba City District.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, grandson, parents, siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NN-TR-D6989051- 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
26 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Curley gave the Navajo Division of Public Safety 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Window Rock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Curley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Darrell Cervandez Curley 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Navajo Division of Public Safety, 9 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Darrell Cervandez Curley's cause is highlighted.
How Darrell Cervandez Curley Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 35 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Darrell Cervandez Curley is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Darrell Cervandez Curley was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Navajo Division of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw.
