Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Hale Humphrey was killed when he was struck by a suspect vehicle at a roadblock. The vehicle was being chased by officers and was being driven by two suspects who had just robbed a man at a gas station and had shot and killed Officer Charles Sorenson of the California Highway Patrol. Officer Sorenson was on patrol when he spotted the suspect vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. He gave chase to the vehicle until it crashed and then began chasing the suspects on foot. One of the suspects shot him in the neck, killing him instantly. The two killers then stole Officer Sorenson's cruiser and led officers on a chase at speeds of 130 mph. The killers were finally stopped six miles east of Fairfield when they rammed a roadblock on Highway 12, killing Deputy Humphrey. Both suspects, ages 18 and 16, were apprehended and charged with the deaths of both officers. The 16-year-old suspect was turned over to the California Youth Authority. The 18-year-old suspect, who was the driver and the gunman, was convicted of first-degree murder of Officer Sorenson and second-degree murder of Deputy Humphrey and sentenced to death on September 17th, 1963. On August 23rd, 1966, his sentence was commuted to life. He was paroled from Soledad Prison in September 1978. Deputy Humphrey was a United States World War II and Korean War Navy veteran who served with the Solano County Sheriff's Department for seven years and previously served with the Fairfield Police Department. He was survived by his wife and daughter. In 2016 a section of Highway 12 between Fairfield and Suisun City was renamed the Solano County Deputy Sheriff Hale Humphrey Memorial Highway.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-C71FDE71- 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 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 Humphrey gave the Solano County Sheriff's Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fairfield 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Hale Humphrey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Hale Humphrey 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 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Solano County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hale Humphrey's cause is highlighted.
How Hale Humphrey Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1978
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hale Humphrey is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hale Humphrey was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Solano County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
