Lieutenant Joseph Ralph Silva, New Mexico Corrections Department, New Mexico

Lieutenant Joseph Ralph Silva

New Mexico Corrections Department, New Mexico

End of Watch Friday, April 3, 1987

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Joseph Ralph Silva

Lieutenant Joseph Silva was killed when he was assaulted by a prisoner for whom he had written a disciplinary report for possessing a shank.

After the prisoner was found guilty by a review board he asked to speak with Lieutenant Silva in his office in the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility near Las Cruces. Other officers were alerted to a problem when Lieutenant Silva pressed the emergency button on his radio and found him bleeding from the head and a two-by-four on the floor nearby.

The prisoner was convicted of the murder and had 18 months added to his two life sentences.

Lieutenant Silva had served with the New Mexico Corrections Department for four years but had been in law enforcement with several agencies beforehand. He was survived by his two sons.

Bio

Age 29
Tour 4 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Assault
Weapon Blunt object; Lumber
Offender Added 18 months to 2 life sentences

correctional Facility, prisoner custody, retaliation

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Most Recent Reflection

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I was at the cemetery today to visit the grave of a fellow officer I got to know and work with when to my surprise I came upon your grave. I reflect often on my time working at SNMCF, knowing that I survived a career that many can't do and got to retire. Thank you for your service, I got to work with a few officers that were around during your employment and told me about your tragic story, rest in peace brother!

Officer J Pedraza
NM Dept. Of Corrections, SNMCF

May 13, 2024