Robert W. “Bob” Hedman Jr., age 49, an Otero County, N.M., Deputy Sheriff, was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, near Cloudcroft, N.M.

Bob was born July 2, 1955, in Oneonta, N.Y.

He served in the U.S. Army for 21 years, retiring in 1994 as a staff sergeant. During his military career he served in the Special Forces and was a military policeman. He was a Vietnam veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star. After his military retirement, Bob served as a police officer in Tularosa. N.M., for one year, as a deputy sheriff in Lincoln County, N.M., for one year; six years with the Alamogordo, N.M., Department of Public Safety, and has been a deputy sheriff in Otero County for two years.

What Bob loved most in life was his wife, Cheryl, law enforcement, the mountains, and he loved people and was always there for them.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl Miller Hedman of the family home in Alamogordo, N.M.; a son, Bobby Hedman III of the family home; a daughter, Lorrie Hedman of Tularosa,N.M.; a stepson, Mark Miller and his wife Kelly of Albert Lea; a stepdaughter, Melinda Miller of Alamogordo and her fiance Tim David of Alamogordo; two grandchildren: Caleb and Faith Miller of Albert Lea; his mother, Dolores Hedman of Maryland, N.Y.; and two brothers: Fred Hedman and his wife Rhonda of Davenport Center, N.Y., and Ralph Hedman and his wife Jackie of Oneonta, N.Y.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Hedman Sr.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. at Christ Community Church in Alamogordo with the Rev. Jack Brock officiating. Pallbearers will be officers from the Otero County Sheriff’s Department. Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Army. Cremation will follow the funeral services. Friends may call Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton-O’Dell Funeral Home, in Alamogordo.

To send a tribute to the family, please visit www.mem.com.