On May 2, 1972, Special Deputy Sheriff Travis Haynes of the Quay County Sheriff's Department in Tucumcari, New Mexico, responded to a call for assistance from a local rancher regarding two stranded motorists. At the time, Haynes was working in his store when he received the request for help. Upon arrival, he encountered the two individuals and departed with them in his vehicle.
After an extended period without communication, Deputy Haynes's wife became concerned and contacted the sheriff's office, prompting a search operation. Authorities eventually discovered Haynes with a gunshot wound to the head, abandoned behind a telephone building in Taiban, New Mexico. The investigation revealed that the two men he had assisted were escapees from the Kansas State Prison. Following a vehicle pursuit, both suspects were apprehended and subsequently convicted for the shooting of Deputy Haynes.
Despite medical intervention, Deputy Haynes never fully recovered from his injuries. He remained under medical care for nearly 12 years before passing away on February 14, 1984, in Abilene, Texas. At the time of the initial incident, he had dedicated 25 years of service as a Special Deputy with the Quay County Sheriff's Department.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the community rallied to support Deputy Haynes and his family. A fund was established by Dr. Thomas M. Prescott, a local physician, which accumulated $754.80 in donations to assist with medical expenses. These funds were deposited in Citizens Bank to help cover the costs of Haynes's treatment at a Lubbock hospital, where he underwent surgery following the attack.
Deputy Haynes's sacrifice is remembered as a testament to his commitment to public service and the dangers law enforcement officers face in the line of duty. His name is honored among those who have fallen while serving their communities.
