Taber

Ptlm. Walter G. Taber

1897-1937

A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Walter Taber was born in 1897. Not much is known about his youth, but it is known that he served overseas in the military during World War I in an artillery regiment. Walter, his wife, and daughter were living in Glorieta, New Mexico, when he entered the first New Mexico State Police training school in June 1935. Over the next two years, he was stationed in Vaughn, Tucumcari, Las Cruces, and Grants.

Walter was described as a jolly robust man who was always smiling and cheerful. Like other state police officers, he was issued a Harley Davidson motorcycle, but it was said that he never gained full confidence in handling the large bike.

On September 22, 1937, Walter had just completed a re-training course at state police headquarters in Santa Fe, and was returning to his home in Grants. As he pulled into the intersection of

Cerrillos Road and Indian School Road, a few blocks from headquarters, a car pulled out in front of him and there was a collision. Walter sustained a broken hip and severe lacerations, along with bruises on his face and head. He was transported to Saint Vincent’s Sanatorium where he developed a heart condition and went into shock. He survived these complications until the evening of September 28, 1937. Walter was buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery with full military honors. He was the first New Mexico State Police officer killed in the line of duty and was survived by his wife and daughter.