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Incident
Officer Juan Cruz was killed when his patrol car was rear-ended while he was investigating another accident on I-10, at the exit for Ruthrauff Road in Tucson. He was sitting in his patrol car, which was parked in the left lane with emergency lights activated when the crash curred. The patrol car burst into flames and, as another officer attempted to free him, a small explosion occurred. The vehicle that struck him had driven through a line of flares and didn't slow down before the impact. The driver of that vehicle, who turned 21 the day before the crash, was taken to a local hospital and a homicide investigation was started. The driver ad a BAC of .168. She plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Officer Cruz had been with the department for 17 years. He is survived by five children and fiancee. He was planning on being remarried only two weeks after the incident.
Survivors
He is survived by five children and fiancee.
In Our Keeping
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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.
Officer Cruz gave the Arizona Department of Public Safety 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arizona. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cruz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Arizona Department of Public Safety has lost 31 officers; 16 of them killed feloniously.
Juan is one of 204 officers killed feloniously in AZ, 61.8% of the 330 remembered there.
Juan is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Juan is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1998, 1 officer at Arizona Department of Public Safety was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 13 years on record. The heaviest was 1971, with 2.
In 1998, 2 officers in AZ were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 6.
In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1998, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Juan was 48. Of the 16 killed feloniously at Arizona Department of Public Safety whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 47.3; the middle age was 42. Juan had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 15.5 years.
Juan was 48. Of the 186 killed feloniously in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 31.3 and 47; the middle age was 39. Juan had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Juan was 48. 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. Juan had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Juan was 48. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Juan had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 12.5% of these deaths at Arizona Department of Public Safety; July holds the most, 25%. Wednesdays: 18.8%.
December holds 6.4% of these deaths in AZ; May holds the most, 13.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 51.6% of all 31 deaths at Arizona Department of Public Safety, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 37.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.8% of all 330 deaths in AZ, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 7.8% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
His people
Arizona Department of Public Safety has 31 officers remembered here, Juan among them.
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Louis O. Cochran
Dec 22, 1958
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Paul E. Marston
Jun 9, 1969
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Gilbert A. Duthie
Sep 5, 1970
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James L. Keeton
Feb 5, 1971
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Don A. Beckstead
Feb 7, 1971
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Alan H. Hansen
Jul 19, 1973
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Gregory A. Diley
Dec 2, 1977
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Noah Mack Merrill, Jr.
Dec 11, 1978
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John C. Walker
Nov 30, 1979
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William Harding Murie
Nov 19, 1980
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Thomas Patrick McNeff
Oct 2, 1983
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Richard G. Stratman
Oct 2, 1983
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Bruce A. Petersen
Oct 20, 1987
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Edward Anthony Rebel
Jun 28, 1988
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Johnny E. Garcia
Oct 14, 1989
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John M. Blaser
Aug 31, 1990
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David George Gabrielli
Aug 31, 1990
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Manuel Hurtado Tapia
Jan 8, 1991
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David Jon Zesiger
Jul 3, 1992
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Mark Maynard Dryer
Jul 3, 1993
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Michael Lynn Crowe
Jul 5, 1995
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Robert K. Martin
Aug 15, 1995
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Douglas Edward Knutson
Jan 2, 1998
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Juan Nieblas Cruz
Dec 9, 1998
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Floyd James Fink, Jr.
Feb 18, 2000
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Brett C. Buckmister
Mar 21, 2000
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Bruce Wesley Harrolle
Oct 13, 2008
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Christopher Russell Marano
Dec 17, 2009
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Timothy Allen Huffman
May 6, 2013
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Tyler James Edenhofer
Jul 25, 2018
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Hunter R. Bennett
Feb 4, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Arizona Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
