Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota
End of Watch: Thursday, December 28, 1916
Age:
Tour of Duty: 3 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 28, 1916
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Patrolman Hawkes was shot and killed when he went to the Garlick Hotel to arrest a disorderly man.
Patrolman Hawkes was called to the hotel when one of the guests became disorderly. At some point the guest went to the landlord’s apartment and asked for a gun. Even though the landlord did not give him a gun, the suspect somehow came up with a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver. When Patrolman Hawkes arrived, the suspect shot him three times as he entered the hotel.
The 37-year-old suspect was arrested by other officers. Two weeks later he stabbed himself to death in his jail cell.
Patrolman Hawkes had served with the Rapid City Police Department for 3 1/2 years.