Sheriff Robert Mendum Tarr

Robert Mendum Tarr

Sheriff Robert Tarr was shot and killed at an agricultural inspection station near Kingman, Arizona.

Two men who had just been released from California and Arizona prisons had stolen a car in Long Beach, CA and were stopped at the agricultural inspection station because they didn't have the paperwork for the car. The inspector called the sheriff and when he responded he asked one of the men to open the trunk. After doing so, the ex-convict drew a weapon and shot Sheriff Tarr as he began walking toward him. Sheriff Tarr then drew his weapon and fired four times, hitting the suspect twice.

Sheriff Tarr was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He had previously served with the Kingman Police Department and San Bernardino County, California, Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his wife, nine children, mother, and six siblings.