Incident
Sergeant Donald Hodges was shot and killed while chasing a theft suspect at a cocktail lounge southeast of Bakersfield. The suspect grabbed an employee's purse and ran out the door. Sergeant Hodges saw the incident and chased the suspect into the parking lot where he turned and shot him. The suspect was captured at his apartment two blocks away. The 19 year-old suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to five years to life August 18, 1969. Sergeant Hodges had been with the agency for 18 years.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Donald is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Hodges gave the Kern County Sheriff's Office 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bakersfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Hodges.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Donald Durr Hodges served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1946â1947) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Kern County Sheriff's Office has lost 28 officers; 9 of them killed feloniously.
Donald is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Donald is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Donald is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1969, 1 officer at Kern County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1891, with 2.
In 1969, 9 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1969, 124 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1969, 128 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Donald was 39. Of the 7 killed feloniously at Kern County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 41; the middle age was 35. Donald had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Donald was 39. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Donald had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Donald was 39. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Donald had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Donald was 39. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Donald had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 22.2% of these deaths at Kern County Sheriff's Office; July holds the most, 33.3%. Mondays: 11.1%.
April holds 9.1% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 12.9%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 32.1% of all 28 deaths at Kern County Sheriff's Office, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 11.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 26.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Kern County Sheriff's Office has 28 officers remembered here, Donald among them.
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William Stewart Mettler Nov 6, 1873
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Oliver McCoy Jul 3, 1891
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John L. Powers
Jul 3, 1891
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William E. Tibbet
Apr 19, 1903
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Howard Hamilton Knott
Oct 6, 1945
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Clayton Hall Yearick
Nov 15, 1949
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Roland Lucien Barbeau
Feb 26, 1953
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Wayne Herman Trudell
Jun 4, 1962
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Robert Paul Grabner
Jul 11, 1962
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Samuel Harold Moore
Jul 11, 1962
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Frederic C. Scheberies
Jan 11, 1964
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Richard O. Slates Dec 21, 1966
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Donald Durr Hodges
Apr 14, 1969
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Terry Lee Greer
Aug 7, 1973
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Charles James Banning
Oct 23, 1974
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Michael Ronald Wilson
Oct 11, 1981
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Ray Leonard Mallory
Aug 16, 1983
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Lansing Lloyd Warren
Aug 16, 1983
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Michael Jay Bentley
Oct 19, 1983
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Ray Delton Bockman
Aug 16, 1986
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Marvin Ray Kline
Aug 16, 1986
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Douglas Robert Moonen
Aug 16, 1986
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Richard Robert McHale
Mar 3, 1989
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James Lee Williams
Oct 19, 1991
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Daniel Lee Archuleta
Sep 12, 2004
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William Joseph Hudnall, Jr.
Nov 14, 2006
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James Edward Throne
May 23, 2008
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Phillip Jesse Campas
Jul 25, 2021
Military Service
Donald Durr Hodges served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1946–1947) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Donald Durr Hodges’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Kern County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.














