Bio & Incident Details
Age: 31
Tour: 3 months
Badge # 3158
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 11/10/1971
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Sentenced to 999 years
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Officer Johnnie Hartwell was shot and killed after he and his training officer observed a truck strike a utility pole. Believing the men were intoxicated, the officers asked the men to exit the vehicle. Unbeknownst to them, two of the men had just robbed the third man and planned to kill him. The two suspects opened fire on the officers, fatally wounding Officer Hartwell and wounding his training officer. Both officers returned fire, wounding the suspects. The men were subsequently sentenced to 999 years in prison.
Officer Hartwell had been with the agency for three months and was survived by his wife and children.
