Wildlife Agent Terry L. Hoffer, Washington Department of Wildlife, Washington

Wildlife Agent Terry L. Hoffer

Washington Department of Wildlife, Washington

End of Watch Saturday, November 10, 1984

Terry L. Hoffer

Agent Hoffer was shot and killed while he and his partner were patrolling in the mountains near Buckley, Washington, during elk season.

The officers waved to a Jeep to stop and Officer Hoffer's partner exited the patrol car and approached the vehicle. As he walked around the vehicle a shot rang out. The occupants of the Jeep shouted that someone was shooting at them from the woods and drove off. Agent Hoffer's partner returned to the patrol car and found that Agent Hoffer had been shot through the chest.

A person in the vehicle behind the Jeep wrote down the license plate number and the occupants were arrested later in the day. The investigation showed that the Jeep occupants were attempting to unload a hunting rifle at the time in order to avoid receiving a citation and accidentally fired it.

Agent Hoffer had been with the agency for seven years and had previously been an officer with another agency. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Bio

Age 36
Tour 7 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Rifle
Offender Apprehended

Most Recent Reflection

View all 15 Reflections

I was working dispatch that day, in the little Town of Buckley. I remember the call coming over the radio, it is a day that has stayed with me forever. This was not something that happened to our Officers. It was not something that happened in the Buckley area. I was not something that happened...period.

Not only were you a Wildlife Officer you were also a friend.

30 years have come and gone however you have never been forgotten.

Chris (McGreen) McAfee - Dispatcher
FireComm

November 8, 2014