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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Kent Kearney was shot and killed as he and other officers attempted to arrest three suspects in connection with the disappearance and murders of two men in 1896. Sheriff Kearney spotted two of the suspects hiding on a roof. As he climbed a ladder to the roof he was shot by one of the suspects. The group of officers retreated and the suspects were never arrested for the murder of Sheriff Kearney. All three did surrender to the sheriff's office to face trial in the disappearance of the two men in 1896. They were acquitted of that crime and were not tried for the murder of Sheriff Kearney. One suspect later became a senator in the New Mexico State Senate and died in 1941; another suspect died in 1946. A third suspect, the man who murdered the two men in 1896 was also the leader of a gang that murdered two officers in New Mexico the following year. Posseman Henry Love, of the Colfax County, New Mexico, Sheriff's Department, and Sheriff Edward Farr, of the Huerfano County, Colorado, Sheriff's Department, were both killed as the result of a shootout on July 16, 1899. The leader of the gang, notorious outlaw Thomas E. "Black Jack" Ketchum, was arrested following the shootout and executed on April 26, 1901, as he was also suspected of being associated with the Butch Cassidy gang who killed at least eleven law Officers.
Survivors
Deputy Kearney was survived by his two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Kearney served with the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Las Cruces community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office has lost 10 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
Kent is one of 123 officers killed feloniously in NM, 63.7% of the 193 remembered there.
Kent is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Kent 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 1898, 1 officer at Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1898, 4 officers in NM were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1898, 89 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1898, 91 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 73rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Kent was 28. Of the 4 killed feloniously at Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 28.8 and 35.3; the middle age was 32.
Kent was 28. Of the 107 killed feloniously in NM whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 37.
Kent was 28. 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.
Kent was 28. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
July holds 16.7% of these deaths at Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office; January holds the most, 16.7%. Tuesdays: 50%.
July holds 13% of these deaths in NM; February holds the most, 14.6%. Tuesdays: 6.5%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 60% of all 10 deaths at Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 16.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.7% of all 193 deaths in NM, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 13% 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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office has 10 officers remembered here, Kent among them.
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Aniceto Montoya Apr 28, 1876
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William L. Jerrell Feb 5, 1884
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John McLeod Jan 16, 1897
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Kent Kearney Jul 12, 1898
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Tranquilino Lopez Feb 19, 1911
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Ralph R. Higginbotham
May 30, 1952
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Robert P. Larson
Aug 24, 1982
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Carl Emanuel Vocale
Jul 15, 1989
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Ruben Valles Carbajal, Jr.
Aug 20, 1990
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Antonio Aleman
Jul 8, 2025
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
