Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico
End of Watch: Thursday, February 24, 1983
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: 120
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 24, 1983
Weapon Used: Rifle; .30-.30
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Officer Gerald Cline was shot and killed after responding to an incident involving a man with a gun at a low-rent motel.
Officer Cline was the first officer to arrive at the scene and he parked his cruiser at the northeast corner of the motel and began to walk on the sidewalk towards the room. Suddenly the suspect stepped out of the room and fired a round from a 30-30 rifle point blank into Officer Cline's chest, killing him.
A civilian ride along in Officer Cline's cruiser called for help and to warn other responding officers.
The 29-year-old subject was apprehended and sentenced to death but had his sentence commuted to life by a governor prior to leaving office after losing in a landslide defeat. He was denied parole in March, 2015. He died in prison February 14, 2019, approximately one month before his next parole hearing.
Officer Cline had served with the Albuquerque Police Department for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. He was buried at the Sunset Memorial Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.