Farmington Police Department, New Mexico
End of Watch: Friday, August 17, 1979
Age: 40
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: August 17, 1979
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Ruled accidental
Lieutenant Owen Landdeck was accidentally shot and killed in a police academy training exercise.
Lieutenant Landdeck was playing the role of a deranged husband in a mock domestic violence call. The scenario called for Lieutenant Landdeck to draw a gun at one point, and a Cadet would return fire. Inadvertently the cadet's gun was loaded with live ammunition instead of blanks, and when the cadet fired his weapon, he killed Lieutenant Landdeck.
Lieutenant Landdeck had served with the Farmington Police Department for 10 years and in law enforcement for 20 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
The Safety City police officer training facility in Kirtland was renamed will be renamed Lieutenant Owen Landdeck Training Center.