Sergeant Manuel Hurtado Tapia, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona

Sergeant Manuel Hurtado Tapia

Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona

End of Watch Tuesday, January 8, 1991

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Manuel Hurtado Tapia

Sergeant Manuel Tapia was shot and killed in Nogales by a man suspected of drug trafficking.

He had stopped the subject's vehicle near 850 East Grand Avenue but the man fled on foot as they walked towards the trunk of the car. During the foot pursuit, the man turned and shot Sergeant Tapia. The man was shot and killed by another officer at the scene. After the shooting, it was discovered that Sergeant Tapia was unarmed as he had inadvertently left his gun in his vehicle.

Sergeant Tapia was a U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant who served in the Vietnam War. He is survived by his parents, three children, three sisters, and three brothers.

Bio

Age 41
Tour 17 years, 6 months
Badge 1409
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

narcotics, foot pursuit, traffic stop

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Sgt. Tapia,
On today, the 31st anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the USMC during the Vietnam War. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Semper Fi Devil Dog!
A fellow LEO; former Marine

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 8, 2022