Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Thank you for your sacrifice for our nation. May you be with the Lord and may he be with your family.

Det. Russ Cain (Retired)


Pittsburgh PD

March 10, 2026

We at Nevada Office of Emergency Management extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Sergeant Michael Schlattman. His dedication, courage, and service will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Hero.

Statewide 9-1-1 Coordinator, Tawanna Wad
Nevada Office of Emergency Management

March 9, 2026

On behalf of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, we offer our heartfelt condolences. Sergeant Schlattman's courage and dedication to duty will never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with his family, colleagues, and community as they navigate this profound loss.

Office of Victim Services - Mandy Kimner
Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles

March 4, 2026

rest easy hero thank you for your service may your sacrifice or memory never fade.

Jerry Matalone #8046(retired) Jerry Mata
Des Moines Iowa Police Department

March 1, 2026

Thank you for your service Sergeant Michael Schlattman !!!!!

Sergeant David Dufault (Ret)
Hartford Police Dept

February 28, 2026

On behalf of Point 27, we would like to offer condolences for Sergeant Michael Schlattman. Please know we are eternally grateful for Michael’s service and his ultimate sacrifice.

To honor Sergeant Michael Schlattman, Point 27 sent Thin Blue Line Dog Tag Necklaces, engraved with “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called children of God” Matthew 5:9, to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico for Michael’s partner and fellow deputies. Point 27 also sent Folded Flag Necklaces engraved with “Greater Love has no one than this; than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend” John 15:13 for Sergeant Michael Schlattman’s family.

Point 27 is a Non-Profit organization with a mission to strengthen and encourage members of the Armed Forces, First Responders, and their families, with God’s Word inscribed on Shields of Strength jewelry.

We will never forget and we are forever grateful for Michael.

Respectfully,

Colonel David Dodd,
United States Army Retired
Executive Director-Point 27

Linda Rhodes
Surviving Wife of Detective Jerry M. Rhodes, Dallas Police Department Retired
Point 27 National Outreach Coordinator
Law Enforcement Liaison
linrhodes@yahoo.com
972-978-5325

Linda Rhodes

February 27, 2026

May your family, friends, colleagues, and community find the strength and resolve to carry on in your physical absence and continue to spread the goodness to which you were so selflessly committed. You were among the best humanity has to offer. Your dedication to service and your ultimate sacrifice shall not be forgotten. God Bless You. Your Family, & Friends

James P. Waggle, Jr.
US Army Veteran (SFC)
Civilian

February 27, 2026

Dear Sheriff Eric Fagan:

I hope this reflection finds you well, though I understand it is an incredibly tough time for you, and everyone connected to your department. I am writing to extend my heartfelt sympathy and deepest condolences for the loss of Sergeant Michael Schlattman, a brave and dedicated lawman.

The news of Sergeant Schlattman’s death has deeply saddened me. The sacrifice that he made while protecting and serving your community is a testament to the selfless and courageous nature of law enforcement officers like him. We can never truly understand the risks and challenges faced by those in law enforcement, and we are forever indebted to them for their unwavering commitment to keeping us safe.

Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Schlattman’s family and colleagues during this immensely challenging time. Their loss is immeasurable, and we can only hope that the outpouring of support from the community can offer some comfort in these trying times.

In times like these, we must remember the positive impact Sergeant Schlattman had on countless lives throughout his life and career. The memories of his dedication, kindness, and professionalism will remain etched in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.

To you, Sheriff Allen, and the entire Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, I want to express my gratitude for the vital work you do each day, often in the face of danger and adversity. The sacrifice of your fallen colleague serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that come with your line of duty. Despite the risks, you continue to serve with integrity and unwavering commitment, and for that, we are immensely thankful.

Having served 45+ years as a Law Enforcement Professional, I stand with you during this time of mourning. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can do to support your fallen hero’s family, you, and your department during this difficult period.
May the memories of Sergeant Michael Schlattman be a source of strength and may his legacy inspire others to follow in his footsteps of honor and service. We will forever be indebted to the sacrifice he made to keep us safe.

With deepest sympathy,

Chief of Police (retired) Don P. Jensen Sr.

February 26, 2026

RIP Brother ..... My thoughts are with your family, friends, and the members of your agency during this most difficult and tragic time.......

LT. Joseph Ward, Ret
Jackson, NJ PD

February 26, 2026

From a fellow SGT ( Retired) from across the Pond in the UK
So sorry that you did not make it to retirement. Thank you for your service. Everyone who pulls on the uniform to protect and serve their community is a hero to me, who moves towards the danger. And your friends and family, and fellow officers should be proud of what you have done for your community.
Rest in peace you have finished your watch

SGT Ian Morrison Retired
Gloucestershire Police UK

February 26, 2026

Rest in peace, Sgt Schlattman. Praying for your loved ones.

Officer C Curione (Retired)
Rochester Police Department, NY

February 25, 2026

The world is now a lesser place. Rest with heroes, sir.

Patricia Harrison RN

February 25, 2026

Rest In Peace Brother.

Det. Andreoli
NYPD-Retired

February 25, 2026

RIP Sergeant Schlattman. Thank you for your service to the citizens of Bernalillo County

Lieutenant Darren Weisse
Tufts University Police
Boston, Ma. 02120

February 25, 2026

In Loving Memory of Sergeant Michael Schlattman
Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: February 23, 2026
To the everyday driver passing by, a deputy on the shoulder of the interstate is part of the background—lights flashing, another traffic stop.
But for Sergeant Michael Schlattman, it was never background. It was his calling. It was the promise he made when he joined the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office on April 16, 2012: to serve, to protect, to stand in harm's way so others didn't have to.
Over more than 13 years, he did just that. He worked as a detective in Special Investigations and Auto Theft, served as a task force officer with the U.S. Marshals Service and the DEA, and rose to the rank of Sergeant in July 2024. Most recently, he led in the East Mountains area—known for its challenges, and where he continued to bring steady leadership, loyalty, and that signature humor his colleagues called "Schlotty" warmth.
On February 23, 2026, just before 5:00 p.m., he was on Interstate 40 near Carnuel, mile marker 170, conducting a routine traffic stop. He stepped out of his patrol vehicle, as he had countless times before. In that split second, a tractor-trailer struck the rear of his cruiser, pinning him beneath the wreckage. Despite the heroic efforts of his fellow deputies and colleagues who tried to save him, Sergeant Schlattman died at the scene. He was 52 years old.
The pain is raw for his family, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters in blue, and everyone in the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office family. Sheriff John Allen spoke for so many when he said BCSO is grieving as one—because you are family.
As a civilian supporter, you feel this loss too. You've seen the blue lights in your rearview, appreciated the presence that keeps roads safer, or simply valued the men and women who choose this path every day. Sergeant Schlattman's death is a stark reminder of the risks they accept quietly, often in moments that seem ordinary until they're not. It's also a call to remember the "Move Over" law—not as a suggestion, but as a lifesaver.
We can't bring him back. We can't erase the heartbreak.
But we can honor how he lived: with courage, professionalism, unwavering commitment, and a quiet dedication to making his community better—one stop, one shift, one life protected at a time.
Sergeant Michael Schlattman is now part of the thin blue line's eternal watch. His legacy lives on in every deputy who steps out with extra caution, in every driver who slows and moves over, and in the gratitude of civilians like you who support those who serve.
From one civilian supporter to his memory: Thank you, Sergeant Schlattman, for everything you gave. Your service mattered. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Your friends and supporters in the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, along with the entire community that stands behind law enforcement, will carry your name forward.
End of Watch—but never end of memory.
Rest easy, Sergeant. We've got the watch now

Lea Sophie Mai

February 25, 2026

Sergeant Michael Schlattman, my deepest condolences to your wife, family and friends as they grieve your loss. Thank you for your brave service to all of us. Rest In Peace, Brother.

Mary Milam
Sergeant (Ret)
Chicago Police Department

Leesburg. FL

February 25, 2026

Sergeant Schlattman, a police officer should be remembered not by how he died but by how he lived! A brave man has left to secure a safe path for the rest of us to follow. Thank you for your nearly 14-year commitment to law enforcement, to your family, and the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. Our country is a little less safe without you. Rest in Peace, Brother!

Chief (Ret) Steven Marshall
Georges Mills, NH

February 24, 2026

Rest Now Brother

Officer/EMT Shannon Yates
Collins Police Department (MS)

February 24, 2026

Rest in Peace Sergeant Schlattman. Thank you for your 13+ years of dedication to serving the Bernalillo community. Your years of service will leave a lasting impact on those you helped. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sergeant Schlattman’s wife and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

Cadet Brittney Jobe
MNTC BPOC Class 26-01-12

February 24, 2026

Rest in Peace…

Retired Detective
Syracuse Police Dept, NY

February 24, 2026

Thank you for your service. Prayers for your Family and Department.

Sergeant Monica Veney
Baltimore Police Department

February 24, 2026

Sgt. Schlatt,

Thank you so much for your service to the people of Bernalillo County. Rest in peace. I will pray for your wife, the rest of your family, friends, loved ones and colleagues

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”. – Matthew 5:9

Daniel Ryan
Private Investigator (Retired)

February 24, 2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with the immediate family of Sergeant Michael Schlattman and the extended law enforcement family of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico.

Rest in Peace brother and watch over us. We will protect and serve from here on in your honor.

I fight not for glory or fame, for they are momentary. I fight for those who can't. I fight for Justice. I fight for the oppressed and the down trodden. And if I should lose my life for these just causes, then I have no regrets, For I serve to protect the innocent. It matters not where or when, for evil knows no boundaries. Be it fire, flood, or the threat of tyranny, I will not flee. Justice is my weapon. Faith is my shield. Hope is my armor. Cry not at my passing, for it was my Honor to fight for you. Shed not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy, for now, I stand with God.

By Jon F. Hooper

"Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer (Retired)
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation

February 24, 2026

Rest in Peace Sgt. Schlattman. Thank you for your service. My thoughts and prayers are with the Schlattman Family and the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.

Cpl. Gary Hughes (Retired)
Passaic County Sheriff's Office New Jersey

February 24, 2026

RIP Hero. May you forever spend your eternal life with our dear Lord in heaven. My thoughts and prayers are with all your loved ones. Our country is now a little less safe without you. Thank you for your service.

HEROES NEVER DIE....

Sergeant Mitchell G. Cheselka (Retired)
Orange County Sheriff, California
Polk County Sheriff, Oregon

February 24, 2026