Posted on 02/25/2026 2:18:31 PM PST by CedarDave
A sergeant with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office was killed while on duty when his vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 40 on Monday, the agency said.
"The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is heartbroken to confirm that one of our sergeants was killed in the line of duty this evening,” BCSO spokesperson Jayme Gonzales said in an email Monday night.
Sgt. Michael Schlattman, who had been with the agency since 2012, was conducting a traffic stop late Monday afternoon on eastbound I-40 near Carnuel when the crash occurred, Gonzales said.
"While he was outside the vehicle, a semi-truck struck the rear of his department-issued vehicle, ultimately pinning him beneath," she said in a news release early Tuesday morning.
Schlattman died at the scene.
Sheriff John Allen battled tears in the early hours Tuesday morning as he spoke of Schlattman, also known as Schlatty to his colleagues.
"He was known for being a true leader in the field, as you saw him today during the traffic stop," Allen said. "He was always wondering what was going on with the agency and wondering what he can do better and how to help the deputies and how to help us become a better agency."
BCSO said investigators were reviewing dash-cam footage of the traffic stop and that multiple people were affected by the incident.
"We just want to make sure since this is so fresh and raw that we're giving everything time," Allen said. "We always want to make sure we give our community that we serve with transparency and facts ... and they're still developing."
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
...and where is “you want them to stop”?
18 mile is too inconvenient to keep from risking your life?
Doing anything could be hazardous.
Doing nothing can be hazardous to your health.
Its a crappy segment of I-40 and the trucks mostly speed through there and weave lanes like drunks. I would rather drive old 66 from Edgewood in.
Loss of life is a tragedy no matter what the situation.
No word on this driver, but KOB tonight had another story of a semi-truck driver who sped through this crime scene with no lights on and blowing his horn. After finally stopping him he hid in the cab. Police video shows the deputies assaulting the truck with pepper balls through the window and tazing him to get him out. This driver is a red-headed man (no name given) who was charged with reckless driving, an expired license and no registratgion or insurance.
Contrast this with absolutely no information whatsoever released on the driver of the semi who killed the sheriff deputy. Definitely a coverup going on.
You just eviscerted “tragedy” of any meaning. So the peaceful passing of a 95year old is a tragedy? The execution of murderer is a tragedy?
No, you have.
You’re devaluing human life by rigidly defining tragedy based on circumstances, to a mere formula and category you can plug people into.
This officer dying in an accident while doing his job is a tragedy.
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