Officer Philip H. Chacon, Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico

Officer Philip H. Chacon

Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico

End of Watch Wednesday, September 10, 1980

Philip H. Chacon

Officer Philip Chacon was shot and killed after responding to an armed robbery at a shoe store.

He had been working as a Community Liason Officer and was giving a presentation at a battered woman's shelter across the street when he was notified of the robbery. He positioned himself behind his personal motorcycle and waited for the suspects to drive by. When they did he identified himself and ordered them to stop.

As the driver stopped the passenger stuck a handgun out of the window and fired several rounds, fatally wounding Officer Chacon. The shooter was tried and convicted, but the conviction was overturned by the State Supreme Court on a technicality.

Officer Chacon had served with the Albuquerque Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

Bio

Age 36
Tour 7 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Acquitted on a technicality

Most Recent Reflection

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There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn't exist in the world and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn't know how to protect themselves. Those are the sheep. Then you've got predators, who use violence to prey on the weak. They're the wolves. And then there are those blessed with the gift of aggression, an overpowering need to protect the flock. These men are the rare breed who live to confront the wolf. They are the sheepdog. …You know who you are. You know your purpose.

Citizen of ABQ
Son of an APD officer

October 30, 2015