Manuel Olivas
Agency patch
Patrolman

Manuel Olivas

New Mexico State Police — Santa Fe, NM
Felonious
End of Watch February 1, 1985
Age 32
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 129 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Manuel Olivas was struck and killed by a drunk driver while investigating an earlier accident on I-25 near the Pecos River Bridge in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He was struck while taking measurements at the accident scene. The suspect continued driving but was later arrested during a police search of the area. The man was charged with vehicular homicide. Patrolman Olivas had been in law enforcement for seven years. He was survived by his expectant wife and daughter. His wife gave birth to his son only three months after his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Olivas gave the New Mexico State Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Mexico. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Olivas.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Santa Fe, NM
Platform Identity nmsp.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 1, 1985
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Manuel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1985, 99 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Manuel was 32. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Manuel had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New Mexico State Police has 29 officers remembered here, Manuel among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman Manuel Olivas

New Mexico State Police · End of Watch February 1, 1985

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E

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