Dennis Titla, Sr.

San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department — San Carlos, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch April 12, 1960

Age 30

Tour of Duty 1 mo

The Vigil Panel 95 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Chief of Police Dennis Titla was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three brothers for being drunk in public on a dirt road one mile west of San Carlos. He and another officer had handcuffed one of the men when the other two attacked them. During the struggle on the men gain control of Chief Titla's service weapon and shot him three times. The other officer was able to subdue the other two brothers and transported all three to the jail. They were convicted of Chief Titla's murder. Chief Titla had only served as the chief of police for one month.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, parents, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SCA-TR-8ECBC738
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 Titla served with the San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Carlos community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Titla.

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

Agency

Department San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department

Location San Carlos, AZ

Platform Identity scatpd.nn.tribal.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 12, 1960

Tour of Duty 1 mo

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Convicted

Chief of Police Dennis Titla, Sr. 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 San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

San Carlos Apache Tribal Police Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious