Officer Patrick Kent Hardesty

Officer Patrick Kent Hardesty

Tucson Police Department, Arizona

End of Watch Monday, May 26, 2003

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Patrick Kent Hardesty

Officer Patrick Hardesty was shot and killed while investigating a hit-and-run traffic accident at the intersection of Fort Lowell Road and Park Avenue.

Shortly after arriving at the scene, Officer Hardesty located a suspect, and a struggle ensued in which Officer Hardesty was shot five times and fatally wounded. Officer Hardesty was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Responding officers apprehended the suspect after a short foot pursuit. The suspect was found guilty of first-degree murder on February 25th, 2005, and was sentenced to death on March 10th, 2005. In December 2023, he was taken off death row and will have a new resentencing hearing.

Officer Hardesty was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served with the Tucson Police Department as a reserve officer for 11 years and as a full-time officer for 19 months. He is survived by his wife, three children, parents, two sisters, and a brother.

Bio

  • Age 40
  • Tour 13 years
  • Badge 31432
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Gun; Unknown type
  • Offender Taken off death row

accident scene, hit-and-run

Most Recent Reflection

View all 193 Reflections

I was sickened to learn that your murderer was taken off of death row. A total miscarriage of justice. 20 years later, the people who had the privilege of working with you still remember you fondly. Those of us in the new generation will carry your spirit forward with us.

With you watching over us, every day is a great day to be a crime fighter.

Anonymous
Pima County Sheriff's Department

January 26, 2024

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