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Ralph Lee Garcia
Incident
Corrections Officer Ralph Garcia was stabbed to death after being ambushed by nine inmates in the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility.
Officer Garcia was locking a housing door when the inmates started beating and stabbing him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three suspects were charged and were not convicted until nine years later. One pleaded guilty and received a 29-year sentence. The suspected ringleader received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. One suspect was killed in a car fire in Bernalillo County.
In 2009, the New Mexico Department of Corrections presented Officer Garcia's family and the Guadalupe County Correction Facility with the Medal of Valor on the anniversary of the disturbance.
Corrections Officer Garcia had served with the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Department for eight months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corrections Officer Garcia served with the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Santa Rosa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Officer Garcia.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Ralph is the only officer of Guadalupe County Sheriff's Department remembered here.
Ralph is one of 123 officers killed feloniously in NM, 63.7% of the 193 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ralph 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 1999, 2 officers in NM were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 77 years on record. The heaviest was 1898, with 4.
In 1999, 58 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 133rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1999, 61 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 132nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ralph was 43. Of the 107 killed feloniously in NM whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 37. Ralph had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ralph was 43. 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. Ralph had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ralph was 43. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Ralph had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 11.4% of these deaths in NM; February holds the most, 14.6%. Tuesdays: 6.5%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Guadalupe County Sheriff's Department.
Felonious deaths account for 63.7% of all 193 deaths in NM, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Guadalupe County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.