Incident
Lieutenant Owen Landdeck was accidentally shot and killed in a police academy training exercise. Lieutenant Landdeck was playing the role of a deranged husband in a mock domestic violence call. The scenario called for Lieutenant Landdeck to draw a gun at one point, and a Cadet would return fire. Inadvertently the cadet's gun was loaded with live ammunition instead of blanks, and when the cadet fired his weapon, he killed Lieutenant Landdeck. Lieutenant Landdeck had served with the Farmington Police Department for 10 years and in law enforcement for 20 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son. The Safety City police officer training facility in Kirtland was renamed will be renamed Lieutenant Owen Landdeck Training Center.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Landdeck gave the Farmington Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Farmington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Landdeck.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Farmington Police Department has lost 3 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Owen is one of 59 officers lost to accidents in NM, 30.6% of the 193 remembered there.
Owen is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Owen is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1979, 1 officer in NM was lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 40 years on record. The heaviest was 1960, with 4.
In 1979, 70 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1979, 88 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 41st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Owen was 40. Of the 57 lost to accidents in NM whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44; the middle age was 35. Owen had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Owen was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Owen had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Owen was 40. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Owen had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 18.6% of these deaths in NM, more than any other month. Fridays: 22%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.1%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 33.3% of all 3 deaths at Farmington Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30.6% of all 193 deaths in NM, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Farmington Police Department has 3 officers remembered here, Owen among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Farmington Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

