ALBUQUERQUE — Sgt. Michael Schlattman, a deputy with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, was killed Monday afternoon after being struck by a semi-truck during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 east of Albuquerque, authorities said.
The 13-year veteran of the sheriff’s office was conducting a routine traffic stop near Carnuel around 5 p.m. when a tractor-trailer hit the rear of his patrol vehicle, pinning him beneath it. Schlattman, 40, died at the scene from his injuries, officials said.
“This is every agency’s worst nightmare, and tonight it is ours,” Sheriff John Allen said during a news conference. “Sergeant Schlattman was a servant leader and a protector in the truest sense. He was the kind of supervisor who never asked a deputy to do something he would not do himself.”
Allen described Schlattman as a steady presence within the department and said his loss has left deputies and staff heartbroken.
Schlattman joined the sheriff’s office in 2012 and was promoted to sergeant in 2024. During his tenure, he served in special investigations and auto theft units and worked as a task force officer with federal partners. At the time of the crash, he was assigned to the East Mountains area.
Both directions of I-40 were closed for several hours as investigators examined the scene. Officials said the driver of the semi-truck and others involved suffered non-fatal injuries and were treated at a hospital.
Investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the crash. Funeral arrangements are pending as the department and community mourn the loss of a respected law enforcement leader.
