Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Tommie Hopkins was shot and killed while he and two Artesia police officers conducted a routine check of a cafe shortly after midnight.
The officers had just arrested two people and placed them in a patrol car when a patron in the cafe approached Deputy Hopkins and opened fire without warning, fatally wounding him. The two police officers returned fire, wounding the suspect. The man was charged with Deputy Hopkins murder.
The man, 35, plead guilty to first-degree murder in July 1943 and was sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled on December 12, 1952. On August 29, 1953, he stabbed and seriously wounded his wife in Albuquerque. The last information was police were looking for him.
Deputy Hopkins had served with the Eddy County Sheriff's Office for over six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, five brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-58FFA2E1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Hopkins gave the Eddy County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Carlsbad community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hopkins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Caleb Thomas Hopkins is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Eddy County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Caleb Thomas Hopkins's cause is highlighted.
How Caleb Thomas Hopkins Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1952
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Caleb Thomas Hopkins is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Caleb Thomas Hopkins was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Eddy County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
