Patrolman James Sides

Officer: Alamogordo Police Department, Patrolman James M. Sides

Date: 8/14/2023          Location: Alamogordo, NM               FACTORS (1,2,7,15,19,21)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Unknown.

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, the perpetrator was a “parolee who had been convicted of aggravated battery of a police officer.” / Yes, the perpetrator was trespassing.

Mental Illness: Unknown.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: Unknown/Male/Unknown

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 9:45 a.m. on April 3, 1984, Alamogordo officers responded to a 911 call of trespassing at a house.

Actions taken by subject toward police: Upon the officer’s arrival, an unknown perpetrator came out of the house and shot at the officers, striking one in the cheek and hitting Patrolman James Sides in the head.

Reactions by the police: Backup officers responded, encountered the barricaded perpetrator in the backyard and killed him during the gunfight.

How murdered? Patrolman Sides was ambushed and shot in the head while responding to a trespassing call. On August 14, 2023, he died from the injuries sustained that day.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? The officers were ambushed upon arriving at the house and never had a chance to defend themselves.

Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? NA.

Outcome for the cop-killer: The perpetrator was justifiably shot dead in a gun battle.