David Dawson Hefner

Lane County Sheriff's Department — Eugene, OR

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 13, 1957

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 93 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff David Hefner succumbed to a gunshot wound he received while investigating a domestic violence call at 387 Park Avenue in Eugene on February 22, 1957. One year earlier, Deputy Hefner had responded to a complaint at the same address and had taken a weapon from the same suspect who had at that time threatened to kill Deputy Hefner. When Deputy Hefner arrived, he was shot as he approached the house at 5:00 p.m. He was struck in the neck with a 32-20 Winchester rifle and was paralyzed. Responding officers rushed to the scene and were engaged in a gun battle for over two hours. When they entered the house, Trooper Charles Sanders was struck and killed instantly. The suspect fled out the front door and shot himself, hoping to commit suicide. Deputy Hefner died of his wound over four months later. The suspect was sentenced to life for the murder of Trooper Charles Sanders and 25 years for the assault on Deputy Hefner. However, he was paroled after nine years. Deputy Hefner was a United States Air Force veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OR-21B95FB1
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. David is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Hefner served with the Lane County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Eugene community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Lane County Sheriff's Department

Type Other

Location Eugene, Lane County, OR

Platform Identity lcso.lane.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1957

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

David Dawson Hefner served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff David Dawson Hefner is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 58.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Lane County Sheriff's Department, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Lane County Sheriff's Department

of 7 officers

71.4% Felonious

OR — Statewide

115

of 197 officers

58.4% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious