James L. Keeton

End of Watch:  Friday, February 5, 1971
Badge:  310
Age:  27

Officer James L. Keeton was shot to death with his weapon by Bertram Greenberg, a suspect in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old California girl.

Keeton, who lost his pistol during an altercation with Greenberg, was shot after stopping Greenberg for a traffic violation on Interstate 40, 12 miles west of the New Mexico state line. Greenberg then fled the scene and was pulled over a few minutes later by Officer Don A. Beckstead, who is believed to have been unaware of the previous stop or fatal shooting.

Officer Beckstead was also shot and died two days later. After the shooting of the two DPS officers, Greenberg kidnapped and killed another person before New Mexico authorities shot and killed him.