Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico
End of Watch: Saturday, June 7, 1980
Age:
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: 9
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 7, 1980
Weapon Used: Rifle; .308 caliber
Suspect Info: Comitted suicide
Deputy Sheriff Leopoldo Gurule was shot and killed after responding to a domestic dispute. When he arrived at the scene a woman ran to his patrol car and screamed that her husband had a rifle and was going to kill the officer. As he attempted to back out of the parking spot the suspect opened fire, fatally wounding him. He was able to call for backup before succumbing to his wounds.
Responding officers located Deputy Gurule next to his patrol car and found the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Deputy Gurule had served with the agency for six years and had previously served with the Santa Fe Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He was survived by his wife and three children.
A city park and a new detention center were named in his honor.