The Mexican American Lawman of Tucson

Nabor Pacheco left his mark in the Old Pueblo

Nabor Pacheco was a noted lawman around Tucson in the late 1890s to early 1900s. He was elected a city constable in 1900. In 1904, he successfully ran for Pima County sheriff, and became the first person of Mexican descent to hold that office. In 1908, he oversaw the last hangings in the county (he’s the person on the right in the photo). But he successfully lobbied for a measure that would put hangings in the hands of state prison officials. Pacheco didn’t run for re-election in 1908; he was named Tucson city marshal in that same year.