Incident
Officer Oldham was killed when his police motorcycle was struck head-on by a drunk driver. The motorcycle was the same one that Officer Richard Armijo was killed on five months earlier. The 59-year-old driver was jailed on a drunk driving and manslaughter charge. On November 5, 1959, he pled no contest to the charges. The judge said he needed time to study the case and had him returned to jail. On Christmas Eve the judge had him released and deferred his sentence indefinitely. The driver died in 1964. Officer Oldham had served with the Albuquerque Police Department for 1 year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
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
You barely got started.
Police Officer Oldham gave the Albuquerque Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Albuquerque community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Oldham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Albuquerque Police Department has lost 15 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Max is one of 123 officers killed feloniously in NM, 63.7% of the 193 remembered there.
Max is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Max 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 1959, 1 officer at Albuquerque Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1886, with 2.
In 1959, 1 officer in NM was killed feloniously, the 35th heaviest of 77 years on record. The heaviest was 1898, with 4.
In 1959, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1959, 62 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Max was 22. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Albuquerque Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 46.3; the middle age was 35.5. Max had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Max was 22. Of the 107 killed feloniously in NM whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 37. Max had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Max was 22. 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. Max had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Max was 22. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Max had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 30.8% of these deaths at Albuquerque Police Department, more than any other month. Saturdays: 23.1%.
February holds 14.6% of these deaths in NM, more than any other month. Saturdays: 17.1%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 86.7% of all 15 deaths at Albuquerque Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 15.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.7% of all 193 deaths in NM, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.1% 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
Albuquerque Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Max among them.
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E. D. Henry
Nov 20, 1886
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Robert McGuire
Nov 26, 1886
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Alexander Knapp Jan 15, 1912
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Donald W. Redfern
Aug 15, 1951
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Frank A. Sjolander, Jr.
Dec 1, 1954
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Richard Armijo
Sep 30, 1958
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Max R. Oldham
Feb 21, 1959
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Philip Horace Chacon
Sep 10, 1980
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Gerald Eugene Cline
Feb 24, 1983
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Kenneth Shawn McWethy
Feb 1, 1986
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John Arthur Carrillo
Feb 22, 1987
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Jeffrey Cole Russell
Jan 8, 2002
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Michael R. King
Aug 18, 2005
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Richard W. Smith, Jr.
Aug 18, 2005
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Daniel Scott Webster
Oct 29, 2015
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 8-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Albuquerque Police Department are honored on badge.nw.












