Roll of Honor
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.
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BO-US-CA-28D88238- Stewardship
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- 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. 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.
Sergeant Donald Durr Hodges 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 97,775 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Kern County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 32.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Durr Hodges's cause is highlighted.
How Donald Durr Hodges Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Durr Hodges is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Durr Hodges was killed by handgun.
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.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Kern County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
