Special Agent Robert Russell Hardesty

Special Agent Robert Russell Hardesty

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government

End of Watch Thursday, June 2, 2005

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Robert Russell Hardesty

Special Agent Robert Hardesty succumbed to injuries suffered eight days earlier during a training exercise at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Agent Hardesty fell 20 feet off an airplane wing during an FBI SWAT team training exercise while he was practicing aircraft entry techniques. He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, where he remained until he died from complications as a result of being paralyzed in the fall.

Agent Hardesty had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for three years and was assigned to a resident agency in Bloomington, Illinois. He had previously served with the Indiana State Excise Police for six years and the Porter County, Indiana, Sheriff's Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and two sisters.

On December 15, 2005, the Robert R. Hardesty FBI Headquarters Building was dedicated at the Springfield, Illinois, field office in his honor.

Bio

  • Age 40
  • Tour 16 years
  • Badge Not available

Incident Details

  • Cause Fall
  • Location Virginia
  • Incident Date Wednesday, May 25, 2005

swat, training

Most Recent Reflection

View all 203 Reflections

Tomorrow is your birthday. You would have been 59. Tomorrow I’ll smile and celebrate for you, but today I think I’ll cry for a while and mourn your death.

I’m finally chasing my dreams and letting that artistic ability you gave me take over. I think I got the dream chasing from you too. It’s hard but it’s worth it. I wish you were here to see it. I think you’d be proud of me. I hope so.

I miss you, Dad. I love you. Happy Early Birthday.

Sydney Hardesty

March 15, 2024

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